Yu the Great founded the first Chinese dynasty, Xia. They ruled in the lower reaches of the Yellow River between 2200 and 1570 BC. The dynasty is famous for its dam building and the working of bronze. The Shang dynasty succeeded the Xia. The city of Ao was its capital. The Shang was famous for silk weaving, agriculture, and the use of wheels with spokes. The basics of the Chinese language were developed in this period. They heated bones and turtle shells and read their future from the cracks that emerged!
The Zhou overthrew the Shang. They distributed large landholdings to family members and supporters. Thus they divided people into landlords and peasants. Thereby they laid the foundations of the future feudal state.