The Met dates the Shang dynasty to approximately 1600–1046 BCE.
Chronological context#
Its account relates Shang and Zhou material culture to bronze and jade objects, distinguishing archaeological objects from later narratives.
A reading exercise#
Choose a catalogued bronze and record its date, material and stated place of origin. Separate a documented inscription from an interpretation of an image; a decorative motif alone cannot identify an event or ruler.
Using the dates#
The exercise is editorial guidance for evaluating evidence. Retain the named reference and its dating convention when comparing another account; this short introduction is not an exhaustive political history.