Ancient East Asia

This chapter explains why the Shang dynasty was called the “Cradle of the East.” Before the foundation of Anyang, the Shang dynasty had moved its capital several times. The first requirement of a Chinese state was a permanent capital, but these not infrequent moves were a necessity until the perfect location, one that most pleased the Shang kings' divine ancestors, was discovered. Highlighting classical China, the chapter describes the evolution of the Zhou Dynasty and why the Shang dynasty was overthrown. A consequent neglect of the western approaches to the kingdom of Shang may account for the rise of the Zhou people, who shortly before Di Xin's deposition were still half-nomadic and half-agricultural. The chapter ends with the imperial unification of the Qin and former Han emperors.