A dynasty is a line of kings and queens or emperors. Ancient China is one of the world's oldest civilisations, and had many dynasties. Dynasties change when an emperor is overthrown or killed, or if they have no heirs.

One of the most famous dynasties - and earliest - was known as the Shang Dynasty. It lasted from 1600 BC to 1046 BC. The dynasty was at a time we would also call the Bronze Age.

The Shang emperors ruled part of what is now modern China. The area they controlled was centred on the fertile Yellow River (also called the Huang He).

The Shang dynasty began when an army, led by a warlord called Tang, went into battle with the Xia rulers of the time. So the Shang dynasty began with a violent battle.

The final Shang dynasty king, called Di Xin, was also beaten in battle and committed suicide. So the dynasty started and ended in battles.

During the Shang dynasty there were good and bad rulers. What happened under each king also depended on their personal idea. So, for example, the capital city was moved five times.

Very little remains of this early time. In fact, until the start of the 20th century, nobody knew anything about the Shang. But at the turn of the century, archaeologists noticed that Chinese traditional medicine men were selling "dragon bones" marked with curious characters. They turned out to be writings on bone made in their countless thousands during the Shang dynasty. In fact, it is the writings on these bones that give most of the clues to what the Shang era was like. Their proper name is 'oracle bones' because they were used to foretell the future.

The Shang were farming people, who also hunted for food, and, like many warrior nations, they increased their wealth by attacking their neighbours. They also practiced human sacrifice. The Shang rulers and nobles were buried in tombs, and one was found undisturbed, This tomb belonged to Lady Fu Hao, who was one of the main women in the life of Shang ruler King Wu Ding.

As part of their belief in the afterlife, rulers were buried with carriages, utensils, weapons, several hundred (live) human slaves and horses, and ornaments such as jade, all of which were connected to immortal life.

Shang kings acted as high priests. One of the main things they did was to try to find out what the gods wanted of them. To do this they broke open turtle shells and ox skulls. The sound of the cracking told the priest what the question was, and scribes then wrote onto the bone the answer to the question. These were the 'dragon bones', which we now call 'oracle bones'.

As part of their religion, the Shang made huge bronze pots, some of which have survived. Bronze was also used for swords and daggers and for the fittings on chariots. Shang soldiers were still coming out of the Stone Age, so they had both stone and bronze weapons. The chariot first appeared in China during the reign of Shang emperor Wu Ding.