| Years | Dynasty (Eras and sub-eras) | Periods of Coexisting Kingdoms | Founder (also known as) | Capital (Modern City Area) |
|---|
| c.
2100–1600 BC | Xia Dynasty | Yu the Great | Zhenxun (Luoyang), Yangcheng (Dengfeng), Zhengzhou |
| c.1600–1046 BC | Shang Dynasty | King Tang | Yin (Anyang) |
c.Zhou dynasty rulers Zhou dynasty locationWhen did the zhou dynasty start and endZhou dynasty emperorShang dynasty1046–256 BC | Zhou Dynasty |
| c. 1046–771 BC | Western Zhou | Ji Fa (King Wu of Zhou) | Fengjing and Haojing |
| c. 770–475 BC | Eastern Zhou | Spring and Autumn Period | Ji Yiju (King Ping of Zhou) | Luoyi (Luoyang) |
| 475–221 BC | Eastern Zhou | Warring States Period |
| 221–206 BC | Qin Dynasty | Ying Zheng (Qin Shihuang 'First Emperor of Qin') | Xianyang (Xi'an) |
| 206 BC–220 AD | Han Dynasty | Liu Bang | Chang'an (Xi'an) |
| 206 BC – 9 AD | Western Han (Former Han) | Liu Bang | Chang'an (Xi'an) |
| 9–23 | Xin Dynasty | Wang Mang | Chang'an (Xi'an) |
| 25–220 | Eastern Han (Later Han) | Liu Xiu | Luoyang |
| 220–265 | Three Kingdoms | Kingdom of Wei | Cao
|