The Early Empires 221 BC-AD 220. Qin Shihuangdi unifies feudal states thus creating the Chinese empire; the Qin dynasty collapses; the Han re-establish, expand and consolidate the imperial system; the decline and fall of the Han dynasty.
The Terracotta Army of the first emperor of China
Confusion, Reunification, and the Golden Age AD 220-907.The Three Kingdoms and the start of the "Period of Disunion" in which China is divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties; Southern Dynasties at Nanjing fend off northern invaders; the reunification of north and south under the Sui and the Tang.
Buddhist art and architecture.
Chaos, Diplomacy, and Invasion AD 907-1368. Half a century of instability during the Five Dynasties period; peace and intense intellectual and artistic activity under the Song; the Jin kingdom invades northern China forcing the Song south; Mongol Mongol incursions; Khubilai Khan becomes emperor of China.
Northern Song imperial tombs
Revival and Collapse AD 1368-1911. The Ming Dynasty restores the Chinese imperial tradition; imperial capital moved to Beijing, the Forbidden City built; Manchus invade Beijing after Ming dynasty collapses; Manchus establish the last imperial dynasty, the Qing; European contact, internal rebellion and the fall of imperial China.
The Forbidden City in Beijing
The Jesuits and the Summer Palace
Commercial trade and expansion
