Chinese Dynasties Timeline

China has one of the world's oldest civilizations with a recorded history dating back more than 10,000 years ago. The 5,000 years period is commonly used as the date when China became unified under a large empire. China alternated between periods of political unity and disunity at intervals, and was occasionally conquered by external groups of people, some eventually being assimilated into the Chinese population. The following is a timeline of the ancient Chinese dynasties.