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The Shang dynasty came to power by victory in battle and were eventually defeated in battle.

Shang troops fought frequent wars with neighbouring settlements and nomadic herdsmen from the inner Asian steppes.

Battles decided the fate of some of the kings. At the Battle of Mingtiao, the Shang dynasty was firmly established under Cheng Tang, the first Shang king.

The last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated at the Battle of Muye, by Wu of Zhou, after being betrayed by his army. The Zhou dynasty lasted for the next 800 years.

Shang soldiers were armed with stone and bronze weapons.

These included: ��á�� (spears), ���è (pole-axes), ��ŧ (dagger-axes), bows and helmets.

The first chariots appear at the end of the Shang dynasty, around 1200 BC, during the reign of Wu Ding.

The Shang king maintained a force of about a thousand troops at his capital and would personally lead them into battle.

Shang armies consisted of the nobility but also town-dwellers and countryside labourers.

The nobility and other state rulers had to equip their local garrisons with all necessary equipment, armour, and armaments.

Armies ranged in size from 3,000 soldiers to 13,000.

The last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated at the Battle of Muye, by Wu of Zhou, after being betrayed by his army. The Zhou dynasty lasted for the next 800 years.

King Wu of Zhou led an army of around 50,000 but Di Xin had 170,000 troops in the capital city of Yin.

At the start of the battle, many of Di’s troops refused to fight for him, holding their spears upside down.

Some of them joined Wu but others chose to fight for Di Xin.

Wu’s troops were better armed and loyal, and broke the Shang troops in a chariot charge, forcing Di Xin to retreat to his palace.

He covered himself in his jewels and burned his palace down with all his treasures, killing himself in the act. It was the end of the Shang dynasty.