Predynastic Shang
Predynastic Shang 先商 | |||||||
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| c. 21st century BC–c. 1600 BC | |||||||
Location of the Xiaqiyuan culture, proposed by many archaeologists as the Proto-Shang | |||||||
| Status | Autonomous state within Xia dynasty | ||||||
| Common languages | Old Chinese | ||||||
| Religion | Shang state religion | ||||||
| Government | Chiefdom | ||||||
| Leader | |||||||
| History | |||||||
• Start of Xie's rule | c. 21st century BC | ||||||
| c. 1600 BC | |||||||
• Established dynasty | c. 1600 BC | ||||||
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| Today part of | China | ||||||
| Part of a series on the |
| History of China |
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Predynastic Shang or Proto-Shang (/ʃæŋ/; Chinese: 先商) was the tribal Shang dynasty chiefdom situated within the Xia dynasty prior the overthrow of their ruler, Jie of Xia, in traditional Chinese historiography. The Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project identifies the end of Predynastic Shang as c. 1600 B.C., with the founding of the Erligang culture, which is traditionally considered to be the rough date of the Battle of Mingtiao.