The Xia Dynasty is considered the first dynasty in ancient Chinese history, although there is still some debate among historians about its existence. According to traditional Chinese history, the Xia Dynasty was established by Yu the Great, who was a legendary ruler said to have controlled flooding on the Yellow River and established the first system of irrigation in China. Yu's reign is said to have lasted from around 2070 BCE to 1600 BCE, but again, there is limited historical evidence to support these claims. Nonetheless, the Xia Dynasty is an important part of China's cultural heritage and is viewed as the foundation of the country's civilization.