History of China

The Mahalo Top 7

1. Wikipedia: History of China
2. Ibiblio.org: Exploring Chinese History
3. China Knowledge: Universal Guide for Chinese Studies
4. Washington State University: The Chinese Kingdom
5. Clark University: Mathematics in China
6. Fordham University: Internet East Asian History Sourcebook
7. Library of Congress: China Country Study

China's Current Structure and Affairs

• U.S. State Department: China Country Profile
• U.S. Embassy Beijing: U.S. Consulate Beijing
• CIA World Factbook: China Profile
• China Government: Official Chinese Central Government Portal
• Xinhua: Xinhua Chinese News Agency
• The People's Daily Online: Chinese Recent News

Historical Timeline of China

• 2205-1806 BC: Xia Dynasty reign
• 1600-1046 BC: Shang Dynasty reign
• 1766 BC: Oracle bone script developed
• 1122–256 BC: Zhou Dynasty reign
• 770-475 BC: Spring and Autumn Period
• 551 BC: Confucius born
• 500 BC: Laozi born
• 474-206 BC: Warring States Period
• 221 BC – 206 BC: Qin Dynasty reign
• 221 BC: Emperor Huangdi orders for construction of Great Wall
• 206 BC: Buddhism enters China
• 206 BC–220 AD: Han Dynasty reign
• 220-265: Three Kingdoms Period
• 265–420: Jin Dynasty reign
• 420-589: Northern and Southern Dynasties reign over separate parts of China
• 539: Shaolin Kung Fu introduced
• 581–619: Sui Dynasty reign
• 618–907: Tang Dynasty reign
• 907–960: Five Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms Period
• 960–1279: Northern and Southern Song Dynasties reign over separate parts of China
• 1271–1368: Yuan Dynasty reign
• 1368–1644: Ming Dynasty reign
• 1644–1911: Qing Dynasty reign
• 1839-1842: First Opium War occurs
• 1893: Mao Zedong born
• 1899-1901: Boxer Rebellion occurs against affluent Europeans
• 1911: Republic of China introduced
• 1927: Chinese Civil War erupts
• 1934-1936: Long March begins
• 1949: Kuomintang retreats to Taiwan and maintains sovereignty
• 1949: People's Republic of China introduced
• 1950: China decides to enter the Korean War
• 1965: China steps-up aid to North Vietnam during the Vietnam Conflict 
• 1966-1969: Cultural Revolution sets off
• 1972: Richard Nixon visits China
• 1976: Mao Zedong dies
• 1976: Gang of Four arrested and tried on treason
• 1979: China invades Vietnam
• 1984: Britain signs over Hong Kong to China
• 1988: China's economy begins to precipitate and grow
• 1989: Tienanmen Square Protests occur
• 1997: Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control
• 2003: China sends first man into space
• 2008: 29th Olympics held in China

Major Eras in Chinese History

Ancient China (c. 2852 BCE - 256 BCE)

• Minnesota State University Mankato: Neolithic China
• Wikipedia: Four Great Inventions of Ancient China
• University of Evansville: Selected Writings of Ancient China

Imperial China (c. 221 BCE - 1911 CE)

• National Gallery of Art: Early Imperial Chinese Archaeological Findings
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Qin Dynasty
• CNN Online: Imperial Rulers of the Middle Kingdom

Modern Period (c. 1911 CE - Present)

• Ohio State University: Modern Chinese Literature and Culture Journal
• Questia: The Origins of Chinese Communism (1989) 
• Asterius: The Birth of Modern China

Major Historical Figures, Political Groups, and Philosophies in Chinese History

Huangdi - The Yellow Emperor

• China Internet Information Center: Profile on Huangdi
• New Statesman: Huangdi's Search for Immortality 
• Chinese Medical Holdings: The Yellow Emperor's Medicine Classic 

Confucius - Chinese Philosopher and Founder of Confucianism

• Stanford University: Profile on Confucius
• The Proceedings of the Friesian School: The Moral Philosophy of Confucius
• Religious Tolerance: Confucianism

Laozi - Chinese Philosopher and Creator of Taoism

• Stanford University: Profile on Loazi
• The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: The Taoist Philosophy of Laozi
• University of Virgina Library: Taoism

Sun Yat-Sen - Chinese Socialism Progenitor

• Spartacus Educational: Profile on Sun Yat-Sen
• Washington State University: Sun Yat-Sen and Modern China
• Bartleby.com: Kuomintang

Mao Zedong - China's Communist Father

• Time Magazine: Time 100 Profile on Mao Zedong
• Washington State University: Chinese Communism
• Marxists Internet Archive: Selected Works of Mao Zedong

Media on Historical China

• Harvard University: Harvard Database of Historical Maps of China
• Minnesota State University Mankato: Animated Maps of China
• Library of Congress: "China Rediscovers its Own History" a Lecture by Yu Ying-shih (Time: 109:00)
• YouTube: Discovery Documentary on Chinese Inventions (Time: 9:06)
• PBS: Tank Man Documentary on Tienanmen Protests (Time: 90:00)

Chinese History Books and Research

• China-on-site.com: Journey to the West Illustrated  
• The Romance of the Three Kingdoms 
• University of California, San Diego: UCSD Modern Chinese History Research

History Blogs and Message Boards on China

• China History Forum The Chinese History Forum
• The Chinese Forums: Chinese History Section
• Frog In A Well: The China History Blog Group

Criticism of Chinese Historical Accuracy

• University of Maryland: Validity of Recorded History in China
• Wikipedia: Chinese Historiography
• Questia: Elements of Chinese Historiography (1955) 

Historical Satire and Comedy in China

• Amoymagic: Examples of Chinese Humor
• Danwei: Stifled Laughter: How the Communist Party Killed Chinese Humor (November 16, 2004)
• Raymond Zhou's Bilingual Blog: "Chinese sense of humor? You've got to be joking" (January 17, 2007)