Title on Photograph: BRONZE AGE CHINA 2,000 - 500 BC.
Material: MAP
Comments on Photo: IMAGE FROM: ONIANS, JOHN (2004), ATLAS OF WORLD ART. LAURENCE KING PUBLISHING LTD. MAP 2, PAGE 47.
Comments on Subject: THE CHINESE BRONZE AGE IS MARKED BY THE RITUAL USE OF BRONZE. THE CAPITALS OF THE SHANG DYNASTY WERE LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS, AND SHANG PEOPLE HAD AN ADVANCED CALENDAR AND WRITING SYSTEM. IN 1045 BC ZHOU CONQUERED THE SHANG AND BUILT A NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM. THE KING WAS REGARDED AS THE 'SON OF HEAVEN', WHOSE MANDATE WAS SYMBOLISED BY THE BRONZE DING (CAULDRON).
