China flag map

China Timeline

  • Period: Mar 4, 1368 to

    Ming Dynasty rule

    The Ming Dynasty is often referred to as the last great Chinese dynasty. Following their rule was the Qing Dynasty. Before the Ming Dynasty, however, was the Yuan Dynasty which was created by the Mongols. The Chinese did not like the Mongols, so a peasant uprising occurred which led to the overthrowing of mongols and the creation of the Ming with Emperor Hongwu. Great creations and buildings came out of the Ming Dynasty such as the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canal.
  • Mar 4, 1433

    End of Zheng He voyages end

    End of Zheng He voyages end
    Zheng He made seven voyages to Southeast Asia, India, and Africa to explore and trade. He carried a cargo of silk, porcelain, and lacquer ware that the Chinese wanted to trade for pearls, spices, ivory, and timber. Zheng died during his seventh voyage and was buried at sea.
  • Mar 8, 1500

    China's Isolation

    Because of the grueling influence the Europeans had on China, the Chinese decided to kick the Europeans out and ban their trading from Chinese ports. Thus, putting them in isolation where they didn't trade with anyone or have any contact for that matter.
  • Manchu nomads conquer China & Qing dynasty rules

    Manchu nomads conquer China & Qing dynasty rules
    The Manchu nomads conquering China was by luck. The Manchu we're let pass the Great Wall of China to help fight off rebels. They used this to their advantage and advanced towards the Ming capital, Beijing. There, they conquered and became the Qing Dynasty.
  • Christianity was banned and Europe was expelled

    Nearly a century of Mongol rule brewed anti-foreign bitterness among the Chinese population, who were treated as second-class citizens in their own land. Christianity was viewed as a foreign religion thanks to the Mongols and Rome. So during the Ming Dynasty, all Christians was banned from China & Europeans were expelled because of their influence.
  • Period: to

    White Lotus Rebellion

    The White Lotus Rebellion was the beginning of internal rebellion in the Qing dynasty. Buddhists were angry due to taxes and government corruption so they led it. This rebellion continued through the mid century.
  • Period: to

    Opium war in China

    The Qing dynasty realized that the opium traffic was a major threat to their economy and social order. When they ordered Europe trading areas to have opium destroyed, Europe was enraged. Opium trade in the Qing dynasty provided a significant amount of silver in Europe, however, it led to addictions in the Qing dynasty and lower production due to laziness. Britain ordered the Qing to stop resisting. When Qing pushed back, the Opium wars began.
  • Treaty of Nanjing

    Treaty of Nanjing
    This treaty came to be known as the first of many "unequal treaties." Britain was given control over rights to expand China and the right to expand the trade of opium.
  • Period: to

    Taiping rebellion in China

    The Taiping Rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, and it was the biggest threat to the stability of the Qing dynasty. It offered programs for social reform, land redistribution, liberty and rights for women, and it attacked the Confucian elites and its teachings. People in this rebellion sought mass literacy and a simplified script.
  • Self-strength movement

    Self-strength movement
    Zeng and his allies were responsible for this movement. The movement was aimed at countering the challenge from the west. It encouraged western investment in railways and factories. This was known to be the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    Chinese Exclusion Act
    This act was a. United States federal law that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers.
  • Sino-French war

    Sino-French war
    Sino-French War was the conflict between France and China over Vietnam. The French had already intruded onto Vietnam and had taken China's major protectorate in the South. In 1882, Li Hung-Chang negotiated an agreement with France in which the two countries agreed to make the area a joint protectorate. This agreement was rejected by Paris and more troops were sent to Vietnam to fight. China, undermanned and underarmed, was defeated by the French in 1883.
  • Sino-Japanese war

    Sino-Japanese war
    Sino-Japanese War was the conflict between Japan and China that marked Japan as a major world power and showed the weakness of the Chinese Empire. The Treaty of Shimonoseki is what ended the conflict in which China was obliged to recognize the independence of Korea and give up land to Japan.
  • Treaty of Shimonoseki

    Treaty of Shimonoseki
    China was forced to hand over Taiwan and grant the Japanese trading rights similar to those for Europeans.
  • Period: to

    Boxer rebellion; 100 days of reform in China

    The Boxer Rebellion broke out in 1898. It was secretly backed by members of the Qing dynasty. It was put down by the intervention of imperialist powers. The failure of the rebellion led to stronger control of Internal affairs by Europeans.
  • Fall of Qing

    Fall of Qing
    The fall of the Qing dynasty was a result of internal and external factors. The exam system became riddled with cheating and favoritism. Money soon bought positions the exam system once gave. Also, the diversion of revenue from state projects devastated families in the Chinese society. The condition of the peasantry deteriorated leading to food shortages and landlord demands being raised. The Qing dynasty was not producing technology fast enough to support the growing population.
  • Foot-binding abolished

    Foot-binding abolished
    Manchus had a goal to abolish foot binding. They believed it to be culturally backward. In order to do this, they had to exert their rule over Han rule. Han customs were changed to Manchu customs and foot binding was prohibited. If a woman was found bounding her feet, a consequence would be given. The end of foot binding opened new doors for women in China because they were no longer bound to their homes.
  • Chinese examination system eliminated

    Because of the Chinese Revolution that took place, the examination system was eliminated. The powers of the emperors became a public vote, hence, the creation of a republic in China. This is significant because the examination system was apart of the Chinese government for centuries.
  • Chinese revolution

    Chinese revolution
    Chinese Revolution was where a nationalist democracy revolt overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1912 and created a Republic. Lots of changes began to shift the power of China. For example, In 1905, the court abolished the examination system, which had limited political power to elites who passed elaborate exams on Chinese classics.
  • Government was toppled