SHANG DYNASTY

For 100 years was considered a myth until archeological dig of 1928 in Anyang

• The ancient China was not one country but number of clans of extended families led by warriors. They fought until one clan became more powerful than the others.

 

-GOVERNMENT

-Led by a Kind who controlled all land -to expand his power he set up

smaller kingdoms under his younger brothers and nephews

-lots of wars were fought to keep the power

-Bronze is copper and tin, was used to make Shang weapons (one of the 1st to use bronze)

SOCIAL CLASS

King and his relatives Nobles-owned land that farmers farmed-

hunted for wild animals (fox, badgers) Crafts people-made things out of bronze, jade,

potters, stonemasons Traders-the Shangs traded a lot. Used cowrie

shells as money (because they were valuable) Farmers-largest social class-farmed noble’s

and kings land-only kept a little for themselves Slaves-captured in wars-spent life building

tombs and palaces-when master died slaves sometimes sacrificed to serve master in afterlife.

RELIGION

-ancestor worship -Kings believed the dead ancestors

gave advice on when to hung, go to war, build new city.

-oracle bone-made from turtle shell or cow’s shoulder blade

-the way oracle bone worked- holy man asks question, presses a hot needle against back of bone, depending on the crack of the bone the holy man decodes the message. (do example with paper)

WRITING, ART AND TECHNOLOGY Writing -writing on oracle bones are

among the earliest known examples of Chinese writing

-logographs=Chinese characters=words

Art -jade=type of stone Technology -Because of Bronze the Shangs

remained in power for over 500 years. (Bronze weapons saved their butts)

THE END OF SHANG DYNASTY

No one knows exactly some say: -fighting many wars weakened the

military power of Shang -kings and nobles spent all their

money away -the king instead of looking after his

kingdom spent too much time on pleasurable activities.

-when the end of Shang Dynasty came and the Zhou was taking over, it is said that the king grabbed all his jewelry and threw himself into the fire.