The Shang Dynasty
By:Aimee, Mason, Dhanush, Abbi And Hannah
Intro...
In chapter 20 we learned about the Shang dynasty! (Pronounced shung)
We learned about eight different artifacts! These eight different artifacts
belong into one out of six different groups. The Shang dynasty ruled in
Hung He for a long time!
Shang Capital City
Archeologists learned a lot about the shang when they began excavating the
ruins at Anyang in 1928. The ruins were the remains of one of the royal cities
of the Shang. The city included a palace, a temple, and houses. There are also
workshops for artisans who worked with bronze, pottery, stone, and jade.
Art…
This bronze artifact was very
useful in the Chinese religion.
This artifact was used in many
different ways such as…
~containers
~religious ceremonies
Art...
This artifact is a chariot! If you
look closely you can see
different things such as...
~bones
~wheels
Shang Social Classes
Nobles- Highest ranked
fought in army, they provided many things for the army. For doing that the king did not interfere with
their land.they lived happily.
Craftspeople- They were a small social class and in this class they used bronze and Jade
workers,potters, and stonemasons.Craftspeople were lower than Nobles but higher than farmers.
Traders- Traders are lower than craftspeople but higher than farmers. They were the ones that went and
traded goods for the dynasty.
Farmers- Farmers were the largest Social Class and they farmed a lot of stuff. They did not own the
land they farmed. The farmers did not keep most of the stuff they grew they kept enough to feed their
family and themselves.
Slaves-often caught in wars. spent most of lives building . sacrificed them to serve master in afterlife.
Religion
The religion of the Shang Dynasty centered on ancestor worship. As the
treasures buried in kings tombs show, the Shang believed it was important for
people to honor their ancestors.
The artifacts found buried in Shang tombs, such as this one, included
animals,soldiers, servants, and various objects.
In the Shang belief, kings had the power to rule because they were descended
from powerful ancestors.
Technology
Bronze was an important technology for the Shang. Craftspeople used bronze
to make many tools of war, including arrowheads, spearheads, ax heads and
helmets.
This piece of technology
was used to kill animals
for food. It was also used
as a weapon.
It was used as a tool
protect the head
during the war.
Shang Government
~government controlled by king
~relatives of the king had a job consisting of…
~they fight to keep others under control or under the kings rule
~Captured prisoners to use them as human sacrifices and to
~weapons made of bronze!
~the governments armies were made up of...
The End Of The Shang Dynasty
The Shang excelled in war, and the ruling classes built up great wealth. But in
time these very strengths helped bring about the end of the dynasty.
Fighting in so many wars made the Shang military army weakened.
A king called Zhou rose up against the dynasty and led the Shang king out.
You will learn more about Zhou in the next chapter.