| Year | Chinese dynasties | Japanese periods | European events |
| 2000 | |
||
| 1900 | influence of Western culture
Peoples' Republic 1949- Republic of China 1912-1949 Qing 1644-1912 |
Heisei 1989- Showa 1926-1989 Tasho 1912-1926 Meiji 1863-1912 influence of Western culture |
Two major wars |
| 1800 | Edo and Tokugawa 1603-1863 |
||
| 1700 | Chinoiserie and Japanoiserie popular | ||
| 1600 | Ming 1368-1644 Mongol invasions |
Momoyama 1573-1603 The 'Way of Tea' developed |
International trading and exploration become important to England, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands. Renaissance |
| 1500 | Muromachi and Ashikaga 1338-1573 | ||
| 1400 | Civil war 1477 | ||
| 1300 | Yuan 1279-1368 | Nanbokucho 1336-1392 Kamakura 1185-1333 |
Turkish influence in south east Europe starts |
| 1200 | Song 979-1279 | Military style rulers - Shoguns | Islamic influence in south and east Europe |
| 1100 | Heian 794-1185 rise of Buddhism |
||
| 1000 | Five dynasties (907-960) and ten kingdoms (891-979) | Japanese arts become distinct from Chinese | |
| 900 | Tang 618-906 China reunited. Influences from India |
strong influences from chinese culture | |
| 800 | Kyoto becomes capital city in 794 | ||
| 700 | Nara 710-794 Nara becomes capital city in 710 Hakuho 645-710 |
||
| 600 | Sui 589-618 | Asuka 538-645 | |
| 500 | Six Dynasties 221-589 China fragmented |
Kofun c.300-538 Buddhism |
Christianity spreading through Europe |
| 400 | |||
| 300 | Yayoi 300BC-300AD | ||
| 200 | Han 206BC-221AD | Roman empire contracts, but lasts until 1700 | |
| 100 | Daoism | ||
| 0 | Buddhism | ||
| 100BC | Silk Road for trading | ||
| 200BC | Qin 221-206BC | Roman culture developing | |
| 300BC | Zhou c.1050-221BC with Warring States from 481-221BC | Alexander the Great, 321-281BC | |
| 400BC | Jomon c.3500-300BC | ||
| 500BC | |||
| 600BC | |||
| 700BC | |||
| 800BC | |||
| 900BC | |||
| 1000BC | Egyptian culture and technology spreading to Greece | ||
| 1100BC | Shang c.1760-1050BC |
The countries of China, Japan and Europe have changed their borders considerably in the last 3000 years. The deeper their histories are examined, the more complex the above chart becomes. This chart is a simple interpretation taken from a variety of sources. © Malcolm Raggett, 1999 |