ca. 10,000 to 2,000 BCE
Printable Map • Maps of Chinese Dynasties: Neolithic Era [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
Color map showing land occupied during China's neolithic period relative to present-day political boundaries. Can be downloaded as a .pdf file.

• Neolithic Period in China [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of three artifacts in the museum's collection.

2,300 BCE
• Ancient Tombs: Neolithic Tomb at Dawenkou [A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, University of Washington]
A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, prepared by University of Washington history professor Patricia Buckley Ebrey, is an excellent resource, with images, questions for discussion, timelines, maps, and suggested readings throughout. This particular unit discusses five archaeological sites, one of which is a neolithic Dawenkou culture (4300-2500 BCE) tomb, discovered in present-day Shangdong province.

Timeline • Timeline of Chinese History and Dynasties [Asia for Educators]
An overview of Chinese history through its major dynasties. Includes a dynasty timeline, a chronological outline with short descriptions of key dynasties, and a "dynasties song" to help students remember the major Chinese dynasties in chronological order.

ca. 2,000 to 771 BCE
Printable Map • Maps of Chinese Dynasties: Shang Dynasty [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
Color map showing land ruled by China's Shang dynasty relative to present-day political boundaries. Can be downloaded as a .pdf file.

Printable Map • Maps of Chinese Dynasties: Chou (Zhou) Dynasty [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
Color map showing land ruled by China's Zhou dynasty relative to present-day political boundaries. Can be downloaded as a .pdf file.

• Shang and Zhou Dynasties: The Bronze Age of China [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A discussion of material culture during China's Bronze Age, which began around BCE 2000. Bronze production is discussed at length, along with jade carving. With nine related artworks.

1,200 BCE
• Ancient Tombs: Shang Tomb of Fu Hao [A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, University of Washington]
A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization, prepared by University of Washington history professor Patricia Buckley Ebrey, is an excellent resource, with images, questions for discussion, timelines, maps, and suggested readings throughout. This particular unit discusses five archaeological sites, one of which is a royal tomb from the Shang dynasty(ca. 1600-1050 BCE) -- that of Fu Hao, the consort of King Wu Ding.

Translated oracle bone inscriptions can be found in the Religion/Philosophy/Thought, Society, and Military and Defense sections of this page.

• Oracle Bones, Shang Dynasty [Smart History]
The Shang dynasty (1600–1050 B.C.E.) saw advancements made in mathematics, astronomy, and bronze casting technology. It is considered the first historical dynasty of China, meaning it left behind written records. These records are preserved as engravings cut into the so-called oracle bones.” Excellent short video included.

ca. 1,300 to 1,050 BCE
• Oracle Bone, Shang Dynasty [C. V. Starr East Asian Library, Columbia University Libraries Special Collections]
"An image of this bone is seen in countless textbooks as an example of the earliest Chinese writing. ... Questions of moment to the ruler and his people, about weather related to agriculture, about marriages of importance to the state, and about sacrifices important to the order of the world, were scratched onto the surfaces of bones or shells." Image enlarges to show writing in detail. For more images of oracle bones, see Special Collection of Oracle Bones.

• Oracle-bone Fragment, Tortoiseshell, Shang Dynasty [The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution]
Select "Part II" under "The Art and Archaeology of Ancient China" to go to page 41 of this PDF guide, which features a small image of an inscribed tortoiseshell fragment and descriptive text, including translated inscriptions from other oracle bones.

• Ancient China: Writing [The British Museum]
A unit that examines "the nature and uses of writing in ancient China." The "Explore" section of this unit "presents examples of writing from ancient China, including oracle bones, inscribed bronze vessels, wooden slips and money. This section could be used to examine how writing was used in ancient China, what types of objects writing appeared on, the importance of writing on particular types of objects and the materials used in writing." Select the "Staff Room" link at left for a teacher's guide to this website and its contents.

• Chinese Writing: Traditions and Transformations [Asia Society]
A background essay about the history of Chinese writing. Select "Images of very early Chinese writing" near the top of the article for photographs of inscribed ox scapula fragments (oracle bones) that date to the Shang dynasty.

Primary Source w/DBQs • Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

• Religion and World View in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, ca. 1600-256 BCE [Asia Society]
Background reading about Chinese traditions of ancestral rites and divination.

• The Great Bronze Age of China [Asia for Educators]
A reproduction of the teacher's guide and student reading to an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City that offers a good overview of the Bronze Age in China. Useful on its own or as an addition to a museum field trip.

• Creating a Bronze Vessel [Princeton University Art Museum]
An excellent interactive unit that illustrates, step by step, the ancient methods by which bronze vessels were cast.

• Ritual Wine Container and Focus on Bronze Casting [The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution]
Select "Part II" under "The Art and Archaeology of Ancient China" to go to pages 42 and 43 of this PDF guide for information about bronze casting and to see an example of a Shang dynasty bronze vessel.

Primary Source w/DBQs • Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty: On Warfare [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Primary Source w/DBQs • Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty: On Childbearing [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

• The Neolithic Age: The Beginning of Civilization (pre-1600 BCE) [National Palace Museum]
A brief introduction plus one-page guide to cultural production during China's neolithic age. With four related objects (three jade and one pottery).

• Ancient Chinese Bronzes [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
A short introduction to ancient Chinese bronzes, featuring 33 objects, all with descriptions.

• Chinese Bronzes of the Shang and Zhou Periods [The Collection in Context, Asia Society]
A short introduction to Chinese bronzes of the Shang and Zhou periods, featuring eight objects, all with descriptions.

Find more art-related resources for China, 4000-1000 BCE at OMuRAA (Online Museum Resources on Asian Art)