ch 3- the shang dynasty Flashcards
shang dynasty
located in ancient china from 1600 BC until 1046 BC
where was their territory
along the yellow river which produced fertile farms for the people
anyang
the capital city. this included a palace, a temple and houses
what made archaeologists believe that human sacrifices were performed
bones found under the palace
what treasures were found in the tombs
bronze weapons, carved jade ornaments, bone carvings, potter, stone sculptures and chariots
how did the shang dynasty start
the second wife of the emperor Ku, Jiandi, swallowed an egg dropped dropped by a blackbird. she gave birth miraculously to Xie.
Xie helped Yu the Great control the great flood and was given a place called shang in return
who was the first shang king
Cheng Tang (defeated Xia dynasty in the battle of mingtiao)
who was the last shang king
Di Xin (defeated in the great battle by Wu of Zhou)
shang’s social hierarchy
- king and ruling family
- gov officials, priests and warriors
- craftsmen
- merchants
- peasant farmers
- enslaved people
what did people eat
bread, wheat, cheese and beer
hereditary
you had to be born into the royal family to be king
positions in the royal court
agricultural officials, dog officers for hunting, guards, musicians, astronomers
royal family’s clothes
made from the finest silk with complex embroidery patterns
royal meals consisted of
horse, beef, chicken, deer, mutton and pork
priests
worked as scribes for the king. they would carve the king’s questions onto ‘oracle bones’ and then heat the bones up during a special ceremony where the king would ask his dead ancestors for answers
government officials
recorded events like the reclaiming of land and strategies for war. they documented names of people who had committed crimes and the tribute payments the king received
what did ordinary shang people do
they were made to fight in the army. artisans and labourers made bronze vessels and weapons. a lot of people worked in mines. most people were labourers on farms or craftspeople
the noble warriors
they lived outside the city walls in luxurious palaces. they spent their time hunting and managing the land they rented from the king.
noble warriors also provided protection for the king and ruling family
craftsmen
lived outside the city walls in mud huts. it was their job to produce products for the king, the warriors and for trade.
bronze workers were particularly sought after
merchants
lived outside the city walls in mud huts. courie’s shells were used by the merchants as a form of currency. they were paid with simple foods like grain and vegetables
peasant farmers
lived in the countryside farming areas of land which were controlled by noble warriors. they lived in harsh conditions. they wore tunics made of rough linen.
crops harvested included millet, wheat, barley and rice
enslaved people
usually prisoners of war and sometimes convicted criminals. they undertook hard labour, often building tombs and palaces. they were frequently buried alive with their masters to serve them in the afterlife
legacy left behind by the shang dynasty
the invention of writing, a stratified government and society
