What is the most likely explanation for why the Shang had little interaction with non-Chinese cultures?

The most likely explanation for why the Shang dynasty had little interaction with non-Chinese cultures can be found by examining historical records and analyzing the geographical and political factors of the time.

To understand this, we need to first establish some historical context. The Shang dynasty, which existed from approximately 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE, was one of the earliest recorded Chinese dynasties. It was centered in the Yellow River Valley, which provided fertile land for agriculture and facilitated the development of a sophisticated civilization.

One reason for the Shang's limited interaction with non-Chinese cultures is their geographic isolation. During this time, transportation and communication were limited to predominantly land-based channels. The natural barriers of mountains, desert regions, and other geographical features created significant hurdles for long-distance interactions. This made it difficult for the Shang civilization to engage in extensive trade or establish sustained contact with distant cultures.

Additionally, the Shang dynasty was a highly centralized and hierarchical society led by a powerful king. The elites primarily focused their efforts on consolidating and maintaining political control within their own territory. This inward-looking approach resulted in limited diplomatic and cultural exchanges with other civilizations.

Furthermore, the Shang civilization was thriving in its own right, with a well-established social structure, sophisticated bronze technology, agricultural advancements, and distinctive art forms. The self-sufficiency and relative isolation of the Shang empire likely diminished the need for substantial external interactions.

To arrive at a more concrete understanding of why the Shang had little interaction with non-Chinese cultures, historians study archaeological findings, inscriptions on oracle bones, and other ancient artifacts. These sources help us piece together the historical puzzle and form likely explanations based on the available evidence and scholarly interpretations.

In conclusion, the Shang dynasty's limited interaction with non-Chinese cultures can be attributed to a combination of factors such as geographical isolation, political focus on internal consolidation, and a thriving civilization that necessitated less external engagement. It is through a careful study of historical records and the examination of relevant factors that we can arrive at this likely explanation.

First of all, who says?

Although the habit is to treat Chinese dynasties as succeeding, there is no reason they should not have overlapped.
That said, they had, as the Chinese always had, nomadic tribes to the north and west and the bleak ocean to the east. Mostly mountains rose to the south. The nomads were unfriendly. Nomadic tribes and settled civilizations are usually not friendly when they interact. Nomads are tough and poor. Townspeople are not so tough but have stuff to steal, including their selves.
By the way, there seems to be some indication that the horse drawn chariot was known to them. That did not come from their neighboring Mongol tribes who rode horses. It was the Indo-European (Aryan) tribes from much further west who used chariots. They became mostly Greeks and Persians and such. That is pretty far reaching interaction.
The geography was tough for friendly relations. The Gobi desert and the mountain ranges separated them from India and the Caspian Sea region.