| Pre-Dynastic Period | ca. 7000–2000 BCE |
| Early Dynastic Period | ca. 2100-221 BCE |
| Qin Dynasty | 221–207 BCE |
| Han Dynasty | 206 BCE–220 CE |
| Period of Disunity | 220–589 |
| Sui Dynasty | 589–618 |
| Tang Dynasty | 618–907 |
| Five Dynasties | 907–960 |
| Liao Dynasty | 916–1125 |
| Song Dynasty | 960–1279 |
| Jin Dynasty | 1115–1243 |
| Yuan Dynasty | 1270–1367 |
| Ming Dynasty | 1368–1644 |
| Qing Dynasty | 1644–1911 |
| Republic Period | 1912–1949 |
| People’s Republic of China | 1949– |