The Zhou rulers defeated the Shang armies and the last Shang king is traditionally recorded as dying in the royal palace in 1027 BC. Over the next few centuries the Zhou dynasty ruled an area of China larger than the realms of the Shang, binding vassal states to them through a system of feudal allegiance.
Zhou culture showed considerable continuity with the Shang, continuing, for example, to make a range of distinctive ritual vessels and other bronze objects. Their palaces, although still built largely of wood, were extremely impressive.
The Western Zhou period came to an end in 771 BC when nomad incursions into the western regions caused the Zhou kings to shift their capital eastwards to their subsidiary capital at Luoyang, ushering in the Eastern Zhou period (771-221 BC).
