The Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE

Shang Dynasty The Shang were originally considered to be a myth. They were discovered because Chinese pharmacists were selling oracle bones the Shang had created; the pharmacists sold the bones as dragon bones. The bones were first noticed in 1899 and by the 1920's were traced to Anyang, where the last Shang capital was found and excavated.

Oracle Bones What do these bones suggest about the Shang Dynasty? The bones suggested the Shang performed animal and human sacrifices.

Oracle Bones Human sacrifice a person who is killed as part of a religious ceremony.

Anyang Excavating the ruins at Anyang began in 1928, but were halted in 1937 when Japan invaded China. Discovered in the ruins were: a palace bronze a temple pottery houses stone 9 tombs jade

Anyang

Anyang

Shang Government The Shang government was led by powerful kings. The Shang king’s rule was based equally on religious and military power. His subjects believed that he alone could predict the future by interpreting cracks in animal bones.

Shang Government Kings set up smaller kingdoms under his younger brother and nephews to expand his control. Strong armies fought to control other clans*. *Clans – a large group of friends and families.

Shang Government The king’s army was powerful because Shang nobles had weapons made of bronze. When a king died, power was passed to a younger brother or son.

Shang Government

Shang Government

Shang Social Structure Six Social Classes: Royal Family Nobles Craftspeople Traders Farmers Slaves

Shang Social Structure 2. Nobles made up the highest social class fought in the army provided weapons and chariots received gifts of power from the king controlled land hunted

Shang Social Structure 3. Craftspeople made up a small social class included bronze and jade workers, potters, and stonemasons were higher than farmers but lower than nobles. Bronze workers were the most valued because they made weapons.

Jade Rocks

Shang Social Structure 4. Traders -were like craftspeople -were below nobles but above farmers -trade goods and sometimes used cowrie seashells as money. -Chinese word for merchant is shang ren, which means “shang man.”

Shang Social Structure 5. Farmers -were the largest social class -grew wheat, barley, millet, fruit, vegetables, and nuts on small plots of land that they did not own. -raised pigs, chicken, and cattle. Millet Barley

Shang Social Structure 6. Slaves -were at the bottom of the Shang social structure. -were often captured in war. -raised pigs, chicken, and cattle. -built tombs and palaces. -were often sacrifice when their master died.

Shang Religion Shang religion centered on ancestor worship through offerings of food, wine, and sometimes human suffering. The Shang believed in life after death. Dead ancestors could help or harm the living. Kings used oracle bones to ask ancestors for advice. Oracle bones were made from turtle shells or the shoulder of cows.

Shang Religion

Shang Writing As in modern Chinese, characters stand for words rather than sounds. The Shang dynasty used logographs, characters that stand for words. Language often varied from place to place.

Shang Art Artist of the Shang used bronze and jade to make mythical creatures, vessels, and other objects. Taotie A very common picture. It was an animal mask that had the horns of an ox, the ears of an elephant, the talons of a bird, the eye of a man, and the crest of a dragon.

Shang Art Taotie

Shang Technology Working with bronze was an important technology for the Shang. Weapons were made out of bronze. Bronze helped the Shang stay in power for more than 500 years. Bronze War Axe used in hand to hand combat.

The End of the Shang Dynasty The Shang’s strengths, war and wealth, became their weaknesses. Rulers spent too much on palaces, tombs, and war. This weakened the economy.