Ancient China Dynasties

Chinese civilization has the longest continuous cultural history in the world — beginning with the Shang dynasty (c.1600 BCE) and continuing through 20+ dynasties to the Qing (1644–1912). Major dynasties include: Han (206 BCE–220 CE, comparable to Rome; Chinese people still call themselves 'Han'); Tang (618–907, golden age of poetry and trade); Song (960–1279, paper money, printing, compass, gunpowder first used); Ming (1368–1644, Great Wall rebuilt, Zheng He's voyages); Qing (Manchu dynasty, expanded to largest territory). Chinese technological innovations — paper, printing, compass, gunpowder, porcelain, silk — transformed the world. The Imperial Examination system (605–1905 CE) is history's longest-running meritocracy — selecting officials by competitive written exam, which created a professional bureaucracy rather than hereditary aristocracy. The Great Wall (various dynasties, 21,196 km total) is the world's longest human construction.