China: a history

Rites to writing, pre c.1050 BC

Sages and heroes, c.1050-c. 250 BC

The first empire, c. 250-210 BC

Han ascendant, 210-141 BC

Within and beyond, 141 BC-AD 1

Wang Mang and the Han reprise, AD 1-189

Four hundred years of vicissitude, 189-550

Sui, Tang and the second empire, 550-650

High Tang, 650-755

Reconfiguring the empire, 755-1005

Caving in, 1005-1235

By land and sea, 1235-1405

The rites of Ming, 1405-1620

The Manchu conquest, 1620-1760

Death throes of empire, 1760-1880

Republicans and nationalists, 1880-1950.