Four great ancient civilized countries

China

China, representing one of the earliest civilizations in the world, has a recorded history of about 3,600 years. It possesses rich historical documents as well as ancient relics. Like other nations, China, in its development, passed through the stages of primitive society, slave society, and feudal society. During the middle decades of the 19th century, capitalist forces of foreign countries invaded China, and China was slowly transformed into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The founding of the People's Republic in 1949 marked China's entry into the socialist stage. During the long period of historical development, the industrious, courageous, and intelligent Chinese people of all nationalities collectively created a great civilization. They made great contributions to all of mankind.

Chinese Dynasties-Period

Prehistoric Times - 1.7 million years - the 21st century BC

Xia Dynasty - 21st - 16th century BC

Shang Dynasty - 16th - 11th century BC

Zhou Dynasty - Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC)

Eastern Zhou: Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC); Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC)

Qin Dynasty - 221 BC - 206 BC

Han Dynasty - Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD); Eastern Han (25 - 220)

Three Kingdoms Period - 220 - 280

Jin Dynasty - Western Jin (265 - 316); Eastern Jin (317 - 420)

Northern and Southern Dynasties - Northern Dynasties (386 - 581); Southern Dynasties (420 - 589)

Sui Dynasty - 581 - 618

Tang Dynasty - 618 - 907

Five Dynasties and Ten States - Five Dynasties

---- Later Liang (907 - 923)

---- Later Tang (923 - 936)

---- Later Jin (936 - 946)

---- Later Han (947 - 951)

---- Later Zhou (951 - 960)

Ten States (902 - 979)

Song Dynasty - Northern Song (960 - 1127); Southern Song (1127 - 1279)

Liao Dynasty - 916 --- 1125

Jin Dynasty - 1115 --- 1234

Yuan Dynasty - 1271 --- 1368

Ming Dynasty - 1368 --- 1644

Qing Dynasty - 1644 --- 1911

Ancient Indian

The History of India begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization in such sites as Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Lothal, and the coming of the Aryans. These two phases are usually described as the pre-Vedic and Vedic perio ds. It is in the Vedic period that Hinduism first arose: this is the time to which the Vedas are dated.

In the fifth century, large parts of India were united under Ashoka. He also converted to Buddhism, and it is in his reign that Buddhism spread to o ther parts of Asia. It is in the reign of the Mauryas that Hinduism took the shape that fundamentally informs the religion down to the present day. Successor states were more fragmented.

Ancient Egypt

Egypt is one of the most fertile areas of Africa, and one of the most fertile of the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Because it is so fertile, people came to live in Egypt earlier than in most places, probably around 40,000 years ago. At first there were not very many people, but gradually Egypt became more crowded, so there was more need for a unified government. Around 3000 BC (5000 years ago), Egypt was first unified under one ruler, who was called the Pharaoh. From that time until around 525 BC, when Egypt was conquered by the Persians, Egypt's history is divided into six different time periods. These are called the Old Kingdom, the First Intermediate Period, the Middle Kingdom, the Second Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom, and the Third Intermediate Period. More information on each of these periods, and on the time after Egypt was conquered, can be found by clicking on each period. Old Kingdom (2686-2160 BC)

First Intermediate Period (2160-2040 BC)

Middle Kingdom (2040-1633 BC)

Second Intermediate Period (1786-1558 BC)

New Kingdom (1558-1085 BC)

Third Intermediate Period (1085-525 BC)

Persian rule (525-332 BC)

Greek rule (332-30 BC) (also called the Hellenistic)

Roman rule (30 BC-700 AD)

Islamic rule (700 AD to 1500)

Ancient Babylon

Babylonia (pronounced babilahnia) was an ancient empire that existed in the Near East in southern Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. Throughout much of their history their main rival for supremacy were their neighbors, the Assyrians. It was the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who destroyed Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, and carried God抯 covenant people into captivity in 587 BC.

The Bible reveals much about the Babylonians all the way back from the time of Hammurapi (2000 BC) to the fall of Babylon (about 500 BC). Throughout the Old Testament there are references to the Babylonians, their people, culture, religion, military power, etc.

Babylonia was a long, narrow country about 40 miles wide at its widest point and having an area of about 8,000 square miles. It was bordered on the north by Assyria, on the east by Elam, on the south and west by the Arabian desert, and on the southeast by the Persian Gulf.

The earliest known inhabitants of Mesopotamia were the Sumerians, whom the Bible refers to as the people of the "land of Shinar" (Gen 10:10). Sargon, from one of the Sumerian cities, united the people of Babylonia under his rule about 2300 B.C. Many scholars believe that Sargon might have been the same person as Nimrod (Gen 10:8).