 What continent is Chinalocated on?  Name the two major rivers.  What isolated China from therest of the world?

 It was the first dynasty  Established by the 1500’s BC  Lasted 700 years  30 different kings ruled during this dynasty  Strongest in the Huang He Valley  Ruled a broad area of Northern China  They moved their capital numerous times to avoid floods or attacks by their enemy  Known for human sacrifices

 Had protective walls that were 30 ft high, 65 ft thick and 4 miles long  Inside the walls lived the Royal Family, priests and warriors  Artisans lived outside the walls in mud houses that were built up against the wall  Farmers lived in villages outside the walls

 Shang had an organized social order  1. Royal Family, Nobles and Warriors  2. Artisans  3. Farmers  4. Slaves

 The King-Was at the center of Shang political and religious life  Lived in large homes made of Mud and wood  Hunting was a favorite past- time

 Nobles- job was to advise the king, they owned a lot of land that they passed down to their Sons  Lived in large, brick homes with tiled roofs  Homes were lavishly decorated and furnished

 Warriors-fought for the dynasty  Wore bronze armor  Used chariots made of bronze and wood  Each chariot had a driver, spearman and an archer  Carried daggers, spears, and axes

 Lived in groups outside the city walls  Made weapons, pottery, tools, clothing

 Most people were farmers  Worked long hours and had little money  Most of the money they made had to be paid to the government in taxes  They didn’t own the land  Had to give the nobles part of the food they grew

 Lowest rank  They were an important source of labor

 Came up with China’s first writing system-a lot of the symbols used today in Chinese language come from those made during the Shang Dynasty

 Priests carve questions about the future on bones  They put the bones over a fire and the bones crack  The priests thought they could “read” the cracks to predict the future

 Beautiful bronze containers for cooking and religious ceremonies  Axes  Knives  Ornaments from jade  War chariots  Bow  Bronze body armor  Calendar based on the cycle of the moon

 Ancestor Worship-worshiping and praying to family members who are deceased  Offer gifts, such as meat or wine to ancestors to show respect  If you didn’t offer gifts, natural disaster would occur  Would often build temples for ancestors  Inside the home their was and altar to pray to their ancestors