Capital relocations of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE)

1. Yanshi Shang City founded in early Erligang

   Jan 1, 1600 BCELabels: Yanshi Shang

   • ScienceDirect
   • Yanshi

2. Zhengzhou walled center (Erligang) established

   Jan 1, 1600 BCELabels: Zhengzhou Shang

   • Britannica
   • ZhengzhouCity

3. Capital “Ao” associated with Zhengzhou tradition

   Jan 1, 1500 BCELabels: Ao capital

   • Britannica
   • Zhengzhou

4. Xiaoshuangqiao built as major political-ritual center

   Jan 1, 1435 BCELabels: Xiaoshuangqiao

   • Xiaoshuangqiao
   • CSSN

5. Xiaoshuangqiao abandoned after brief occupation

   Jan 1, 1412 BCELabels: Xiaoshuangqiao

   • Xiaoshuangqiao

6. Huanbei walled city founded near Anyang

   Jan 1, 1350 BCELabels: Huanbei

   • Huanbei
   • HuanRiver

7. Huanbei destroyed/abandoned before Yinxu construction

   Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Huanbei

   • Huanbei
   • HuanRiver

8. Pan Geng relocates the court to Yin (Anyang)

   Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Pan Geng, Yin Anyang

   • UNESCO
   • PanGeng

9. Yinxu becomes stable Late Shang capital

   Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Yinxu

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

10. Oracle-bone inscriptions anchor Yinxu’s royal sequence

    Jan 1, 1250 BCELabels: Oracle bones

    • UNESCO
    • Yinxu

11. Shang dynasty ends after Zhou conquest

    Jan 1, 1046 BCELabels: Zhou conquest, Yin Yinxu

    • Britannica

12. Rediscovery of oracle bones sparks Yinxu identification

    Jan 1, 1899Labels: Oracle bones

    • Yinxu
    • UNESCO

13. Scientific excavations begin at Yinxu (Anyang)

    Jan 1, 1928Labels: Yinxu excavations

    • UNESCO
    • Yinxu