The Shang Dynasty

Tradition states the Shang Dynasty (Sometimes called the Yin Dynasty or the Shang-Yin Dynasty) ruled from 1766 BC to 1122 BC (during the Bronze Age). Archaeological evidence suggests it was from 1600 or 1556 BC to 1046 BC. Traditional history of the Dynasty comes from the 'Bamboo Annals' which are at least as old as 296BC and have a questionable authenticity (much like the West's Arthurian texts that were compiled as history). These text certainly contain myth as well as history (much like the West's Illiad). Evidence also comes from historians working from the fragments of information they could peice together. Archaeological evidence come from various sources including carvings in bones, apparently ritually carved by the kings themselves. Although the bones are first hand, they are known to sometimes omit names of certain ancestors (perhaps for political reasons). But there are no apparent systematic efforts to alter or destroy previous bones, and later bones include previously omitted names, so they are kind of self-correcting in this one area.

This time period marks the early stage of Chinese civilisation. The government of the time was a Monarchy. This time period was the beginning of Chinese writing, some of which has survived and provides information about politics, economy, and religion (folk religion), art, astronomy, war, agriculture, hunting, animal husbandry, human sacrifice, and medicine. The region had a small portion of coastline and the people engaged in very limited sea-trading. The capital city was moved five times until the then ancient village of Yin (site of modern day Anyang) was decided on half way through the period. Yin was at least 5000 years old when it was chosen. Much like the Roman Empire, the society became increasingly dependent on slavery and rulers grew more interested in pleasure-seeking than the good of the state. King Wu of the Zhōu Dynasty used these weaknesses politically to gain power and overthrow King Zhòu (recorded as particularly self-seeking). The city of 5500+ year old settlement of Yin was abandon to ruins and the history of the dynasty was left to be written by later historians until the ruins were re-discovered in 1899 (proving the city was not actually fictional). Modern-era archaeology began in 1928 and has additionally provided much insight into times preceding the Shang Dynasty.

The Shang Dynasty was preceded by the Xia Dynasty which ended with the Battle of Mingtiao and followed by the Zhou Dynasty after the Battle of Muye.

People:
(The following list needs completion, cleanup, and verification by someone who has a better knowledge of Chinese text and history before it is suitable to transfer to characters)
Xie (偰)/Qi (契) son of Jiandi and Emperor Ku. Conceived when Jiandi swallowed a egg dropped by a black bird.
Shàng Jiǎ (上甲). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
Bào Yǐ (報乙). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
Bào Bǐng (報丙). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
Bào Dīng (報丁). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
Shì Rén (示壬). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
Shì Guǐ (示癸). An ancestor of Tang, according to some sources.
King Tai Wu (太戊). AKA:Zi Mi (子密). AKA:Zi Zhou (子伷). 9th King in some sources. Given the name Zi Mi or Zi Zhou at birth. Posthumously honored with the name Tai Wu.
Yu the Great. Tradition says Tang aided Yu the Great.
Xia of the Xia Dynasty. Overthrown by Tang.
King Tai Jia (Tang). 13 generations descended from Xie?
King Dà Yǐ (大乙).
King Dà Dīng (大丁). Died before taking office. But still honored as a king.
King Dà Jiǎ (大甲).
Bǔ Bǐng (卜丙). A younger brother of Dà Jiǎ
King Zhong Ren (仲壬). A younger brother of Dà Jiǎ. Not of the tradition, known from archaeological sources. However, one traditional source says he was king before Dà Jiǎ.
King Dà Gēng (大庚)
King Xiǎo Jiǎ (小甲). A younger brother of Dà Gēng. Recorded as a son in some sources.
King Dà Wù (大戊)
King Lǚ Jǐ (呂己). A younger brother of Dà Wù. Recorded as a King in some sources.
King Zhōng Dīng (中丁)
King Bǔ Rén (卜壬). A younger brother of Zhōng Dīng.
King Zǔ Yǐ (祖乙)
King Jiān Jiǎ (戔甲). An elder brother of Zǔ Yǐ.
King Zǔ Xīn (祖辛)
King Qiāng Jiǎ (羌甲). A younger brother of Zǔ Xīn. Recorded in most archeological sources. But was left out of the records during the reigns of Wu Ding, Di Yi, and Di Xin.
King Zǔ Dīng (祖丁)
King Nán Gēng (南庚). A younger brother of Zǔ Dīng.
King Xiǎo Yǐ (小乙)
King Xiàng Jiǎ (象甲). An elder brother of Xiǎo Yǐ
King Pán Gēng (盤庚). An elder brother of Xiǎo Yǐ. Moved the capitol to Yān, renamed it Yin (殷)
General & High Priestess Lady Fu Hao. A wife of King Pán Gēng. In addition to being a High Priestess, she was a General of Pán Gēng's army.
King Xiǎo Xīn (小辛). An elder brother of Xiǎo Yǐ
King Wǔ Dīng (武丁)
King Zǔ Jiǎ (祖甲)
King Zǔ Gēng (祖庚). An elder brother of Zǔ Jiǎ
Zǔ Jǐ (祖己). An elder brother of Zǔ Jiǎ who did not reign.
King Kāng Dīng (康丁)
King Lǐn Xīn (廩辛). An elder brother of Kāng Dīng. Various status in different sources.
King Wǔ Yǐ (武乙)
King Wén Wǔ Dīng (文武丁)
King Dì Yǐ (帝乙)
King Dì Xīn (帝辛). AKA: Zhòu (紂). AKA:Zhòu Xīn (紂辛) AKA:Zhòu Wáng (紂王). AKA: Shāng Zhòu (商紂). AKA:Shāng Zhòu Xīn (商紂辛) AKA:Shāng Zhòu Wáng (商紂王). Last King. A bad King. Committed suicide after losing the Battle of Muye.
King Zhou Wu of the Zhōu Dynasty overthrew Dì Xīn. Official end of the Shang Dynasty.
Wu Geng. Son of Di Xin. Under the rule of the Zhōu Dynasty, he was allowed to live and rule as a vassal king but under the eyes of King Zhou Wu's three brothers. But he decided to join a rebellion after King Zhou Wu died. The Three Governors Rebellion was put down after 3 years.
Duke of Zhou. Put down Three Governor Rebellion after the death of King Zhou Wu.
Surviving Shang family members, supporters of the former Shang Dynasty, and the people of Yin were relocated after the Three Governors Rebellion. They were scattered across Zhou Dynasty. Other than that, each were all treated as their social class would expect, be it aristocracy, slave, or a class between. Some were placed in administrative positions within the Zhou Dynasty and all were apparently supported in honoring the memory of the Shang Dynasty.
Jizi. A disgruntled Shang prince who refused to accept Zhou rule. He went to Northwest Korea and founded Gija Joseon. However, Jizi is likely only legendary.
Slaves. Slaves were buried while alive with their royal masters during the Shang Dynasty.