The Xia Dynasty (2100 BC - 1600 BC)

China's first dynasty began in 2070 BC. It lasted about 500 years and was divided into 14 generations and 17 kings. The Xia Dynasty's founder is the legendary ruler Yu the Great who saved the people from the Yellow River floods. The Xia dynasty ended the primitive society era and launched the era of slavery based societies. The central region of the Xia Dynasty is located to the west of Henan Province and the southern province of Shanxi. The Xia Dynasty ended with Xia Jie, who was known to spend his time entertaining, when vassal countries betrayed him. Shang, the head of one of them, killed Xia Jie in Nanchao and took power, marking the end of the Xia Dynasty.

The Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC)

The Shang Dynasty was founded by Tang in the sixteenth century BC. It lasted about 600 years and was divided into 17 generations and 30 kings. The last king is Shang Zhou. Initially, the dynasty moved its capital several times and before finally settling for Yin, located in today's city of An Yang in the He Nan province. The Shang were culturally advanced, and had their own writing called Jia Guwen. They also practiced divination using burned animal bones - mostly turtle bones - interpreted the cracks, and wrote oracular inscriptions. There is an extraordinary continuity from their archaic writing to the current Chinese characters. They also were bronze metallurgists, focusing mainly on manufacturing sacrificial crockery and they also started the use of horse drawn chariots.

The Western Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (1046 BC - 221 BC)

The Zhou dynasty is ancient China's third dynasty. It was founded in 1027 BC and ran for more than 770 years before being ruined by the Qin Dynasty in 256 BC. The Zhou dynasty is traditionally divided into two periods depending on the location of their capital: the Western Zhou and the Eastern Zhou.

The Eastern Zhou period is characterized by the decline of royal power and is more or less divided into two periods: the "Spring and Autumn period" and "Warring States period". It is regarded as a period of transition from a slavery-based society to a feudal society.

China's first great philosopher Confucius emerges at the end of the period of Spring and Autumn period. In this turbulent period, he developed a philosophy of the action centered on reality and scientific method aimed at the happiness of the people. Confucius developed a morality based on human nature and on the requirements of society.

The Warring States Period led to profound social and intellectual changes. The battle of the seven kingdoms for supremacy led them to promote talent. Many small vassal countries were annexed and war spread everywhere in ancient China, but it did not prevent the emergence of leading intellectuals. Many philosophical schools flourished: Kong Zi (Confucius) and Meng Zi Confucianism, Mo Zi's Mohism, Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi and Lie Zi's Taoism, Han Feizi's Legalism. These intellectuals, spurred by the crisis in the country, tried to imagine solutions to address the disorder. They not only made a great effort for the development of politics and culture, but also influenced Chinese thinking throughout history and even today.