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.