The Northern and Southern dynasties was a period of Chinese history, following the fall of the Eastern Jin, when the country was divided between rival regimes in the north and south. In the south, four successive dynasties, the Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang and Chen, ruled from Jiankang, now Nanjing, and developed a refined aristocratic culture with notable poetry, calligraphy and painting. In the north, non-Han rulers governed, above all the Northern Wei, founded by the Tuoba Xianbei, who adopted Chinese customs under Emperor Xiaowen and were succeeded by several short-lived states. Buddhism flourished across both regions, as seen in cave temples such as Yungang and Longmen. The period ended when the Sui dynasty reunified China.
Before and after
- July 403 CESynod of the Oak
- 31 December 406 CEThe Vandals, Alans and Suebi cross the Rhine
- from 408 CE to 670 CEHephthalites
- 24 August 410 CEAlaric and the Visigoths sack Rome
- from 420 CE to 589 CENorthern and Southern dynasties
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
- from 429 CE to 442 CEVandal conquest of Roman Africa
- 28 August 430 CEDeath of Augustine of Hippo
- from 22 June 431 CE to 31 July 431 CEFirst Council of Ephesus
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- 6th century BCEConstruction of Parthenon
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 81 CEConstruction of Colosseum
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 5th century.