Nevertheless , cultural Zhou influence in the middle Yangtze area was initially weak .
Just as the Shang people before them , the new dynasty began to heavily rely on imported ores from the southern mines to sustain their own growing large - scale bronze production .
Cultural Zhou influence in the middle Yangtze area was initially weak .
Just as the Shang people before them , the new dynasty began to heavily rely on imported ores from the southern mines to sustain their own growing large - scale bronze production .