n
| 1368 | Foundation of the Ming dynasty |
| 1644 | Fall of the Ming, foundation of the Qing dynasty |
| 1842 | Treaty of Nanjing ends the fi rst Opium War |
| 1856–64 | Taiping War |
| 1900 | Boxer Uprising |
| 1911 | Revolution causes collapse of the Qing dynasty |
| 1919 | May Fourth demonstrations |
| 1925 | May Thirtieth Movement |
| 1926–8 | Northern Expedition by the Nationalists and Communists |
| 1928 | Establishment of Nationalist government at Nanjing |
| 1934–5 | Long March by Communists: Mao begins rise to power |
| 1937 | Outbreak of war with Japan: Nationalists retreat to Chongqing |
| 1945 | End of war with Japan |
| 1946–9 | Civil War ends with Communist victory |
| 1958–62 | Great Leap Forward causes massive famine |
| 1966–76 | Cultural Revolution: Mao at war with his own party |
| 1976 | Death of Mao |
| 1978 | Deng Xiaoping solidifi es position as paramount leader |
| 1989 | Demonstrations in Tian’anmen Square end in bloodshed |
| 1989 | Jiang Zemin chosen as new Communist Party leader |
| 1992 | Deng’s ‘southern tour’ energizes reforms |
| 1997 | Death of Deng Xiaoping: Jiang Zemin reconfirmed as leader |
| 2001 | Beijing awarded the 2008 Olympics |
| 2001 | China enters World Trade Organization |
| 2002 | Leadership passes to Hu Jintao |
| 2007 | Hu confirmed as leader |
Source: Rana Mitter, Modern China: A Very Short Introduction