| ca. 5000 B.C.E. | Emergence of regional Neolithic settlements |
| ca. 1500–1050 B.C.E. | Shang Dynasty |
| ca. 1200 B.C.E. | Evidence of writing found in royal tombs; chariots come into use |
| ca. 1050–256 B.C.E. | Zhou Dynasty |
| ca. 900 B.C.E. | Book of Songs, Book of Changes, Book of Documents |
| 551–479 B.C.E. | Confucius |
| ca. 500 B.C.E. | Iron technology in wide use; cities spread across the central Zhou states |
| 500–200 B.C.E. | Golden age of Chinese philosophy |
| 453–403 B.C.E. | The Art of War |
| 403–221 B.C.E. | Warring States Period; decline of the Zhou Dynasty |
| ca. 370–300 B.C.E. | Mencius |
| ca. 350 B.C.E. | Infantry armed with crossbows |
| ca. 310–215 B.C.E. | Xunzi |
| ca. 300–200 B.C.E. | Early Daoist teachings outlined in the Laozi and the Zhuangzi |