<P> Written records of the history of China can be found from as early as 1500 BC under the Shang dynasty ( c. 1600 -- 1046 BC ) . Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian ( c. 100 BC ) and the Bamboo Annals ( before 296 BC ) describe a Xia dynasty ( c. 2070 -- 1600 BC ) , which had no system of writing on a durable medium , before the Shang . The Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization , although cultures originated at various regional centers along both the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers . These Neolithic civilizations , known as the Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations , arose millennia ago . With thousands of years of continuous history , China is one of the world 's oldest civilizations , and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization . </P>
<P> Written records of the history of China can be found from as early as 1500 BC under the Shang dynasty ( c. 1600 -- 1046 BC ) . Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian ( c. 100 BC ) and the Bamboo Annals ( before 296 BC ) describe a Xia dynasty ( c. 2070 -- 1600 BC ) , which had no system of writing on a durable medium , before the Shang . The Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization , although cultures originated at various regional centers along both the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers . These Neolithic civilizations , known as the Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations , arose millennia ago . With thousands of years of continuous history , China is one of the world 's oldest civilizations , and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization . </P>
where did civilization get its start in china
where did civilization get its start in china
The Yellow River
The Yellow River