Bronze and Iron AgesGovernment & Law
Xia dynasty (traditional)
c. 2,070 BCENotableContested
China's first dynasty in traditional histories. Whether it existed is debated.
Contested history
Consensus: Ancient Chinese histories describe a Xia dynasty before the Shang, but no Xia writing has been found.
The Erlitou culture was the XiaDebated by scholars
Many Chinese archaeologists identify Erlitou as Xia; many Western scholars say that cannot be confirmed without writing.
The Xia is mostly legendaryDebated by scholars
Skeptics note the earliest written accounts came over a thousand years later.
Community notes
Loading notes…
Learn more ranked by votes
BookMichael Loewe and Edward L. Shaughnessy (eds.)
The Cambridge History of Ancient China ↗Editor's pick