Although Chinese oral history claims an earlier start, one could say that in 1050 BC a central Chinese state is formed, the feudal Kingdom of China. The hegenomy in China changes between the diverse entities in China. The country is united by the Han dynasty in the Empire of China in 221 BC. The empire includes during this dynasty also Korea, Vietnam and large parts of Central Asia. In the upcoming millenia diverse dynasties rule the empire, some times China is divided into diverse polities. From 618 until 907 the Tang dynasty rules, bringing stability in China.

China comes under control of the Mongols in 1278, they bring the Mongol Juan dynasty to power. The Mongols lose control over the country in 1368 and China becomes again an independent empire under the Ming Dynasty. As a result of a civil war in China, the Manzhous can occupy China in 1644 and rule the empire until 1911. Disatisfaction with the imperial government leads to a revolution in 1911.

As a result of this revolution China becomes a republic as the Republic of China in 1912. In 1912 Sun Yatsen becomes provisional president, succeeded after two months as president Yuan Shikai. Initially China is a constitutional republic, with some pseudo-democratic structures, but in 1914 China becomes a dictatorship. After the death of Yuan in 1916 China gradually slids into warlordism and civil war. The Guomindang (Chinese People's Party, GMD) under Sun Yat-sen governs southern parts of the country since 1917 with an own president and forms after the conquest of Nanjing a counter governement in the south. This government seizes major parts of the north in 1928 and China is united again under president Chang Kai-shek. After an invasion by Japan in 1931 parts of the country are occupied by Japan, that establishes in the north in 1937 the separate state of Manchukuo. Chang is succeeded by Lin Sen between 1931 and 1943, when he resumes office. In the meanwhile Chang remains the real leader of China. The Zhongguo Gongchandang (Communist Party of China, ZGD) forms in 1931 a counter government of the Soviet Republic of China under Mao Zedong. In 1934 the Goumindang and the ZGD against the Japanese invadors. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, a civil war between the ZGD and the Guomindang starts. The GMD regains control over the country and establishes a pseudo-democracy.

The GMD rule ends in 1949 when the ZGD conquers the capital Beijing and China becomes the People's Republic of China. Communist leader Mao Zedong becomes dictator. Formally he is the chairman of the ZGD. The GMD governement of the Republic of China flees and constitutes its own state at the island of Taiwan. China becomes a communist one-party state lead by the Communist Party of China. In 1950 China occupies Tibet and incorporates it. When Mao dies in 1976, Hua Guofeng becomes the formal leader of the ZGD and in that way leader of China. From 1977 on Deng Xiaoping becomes the more influential leader of the ZGD, though officially he is only the chairman of the central military commission and since 1989 even without any official function. In 1981 Hua is succeeded as party chairman by Hu Yaobang, who is also general secretary of the party. Since 1982 the official top party post is the general secretary. Hu is succeeded by Zhao Ziyang in 1987. In 1989 Jiang Zemin becomes general secretary and chairman of the central millitary commission, but as his predecessors he has to accept the position of Deng until Deng's death in 1997. In 1993 Jiang becomes also president. Finally in 2002 Hu Jintao, vice-chairman of the central military commission, succeeds Jiang as general secretary of the CPC central committee and in 2003 as president. In this way he is the leader of China, though Jiang remains influential.