Basic Information
The Shang Dynasty ruled from 1766 B.C.E-1050 B.C.E in the Bronze Age and were China's first real civilization. The Shang Dynasty began when Shang T'ang who overthrew the last descendants of the Xia Emperor in 1675 B.C.E., creating the first civilization China had ever seen. T'ang used military power to dominate the region, and created small city-states near the Yellow river.The capital was always based in Yin. The Shang Dynasty lasted over 600 years and was led by 30 different emperors. The emperors told the people they had been chosen to rule by the idea of the "mandate of heaven", saying a divine source gave them power. The reason we have any history of this era was because it was recorded on oracle bones. (http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/china/g/ShangDynasty.htm)(www.travelchinahistoryguide.com/intro//shang/)
History is a song that never ends...(watch at your own risk)
You will find that the Eight Features of Civilizations, Guiding Exhibit Questions, General information and much more has been integrated into the web page, into separate topics.