The First Dynasty Stripes

Vocabulary to Know Dynasty Nobles Oracle bones Fu Hao Anyang

Read Aloud “In 1899 a Chinese scholar became ill and asked his doctor for help. He was given a pack of animal bones that, when ground up, would make a popular medicine. When the scholar looked closely at the bones, he noticed that they were covered with mysterious ancient writing. He became determined to find out where the bones came from and what they meant. Later the scholar led archaeologists to a site along the Huang River. What they found would change history books about ancient China” (164).

The Big Picture 3000 BC Egypt 3000 BC Fertile Crescent Indus Valley China’s Huang River United Upper and Lower Egypt City-states and towns Cities grew to become capitals of states

China 1700 BC One city controlled Huang River Delta Earliest capital – Shang State then name Shang Leading family also named Shang Dynasty became known as the Shang Dynasty Shang Dynasty shaped the lives of people along the Huang River for 600 years

What is a dynasty A line of rulers who belong to the same family Control is passed from one generation to the next

Towns Along the Huang River Hundreds of town sprang up along the Huang River All were ruled by the Shang Dynasty New towns created when new lands were given to relative Relatives were called nobles Who ”oversaw the construction of the new towns and became their rulers” (p. 165).

A Shang Ruler Busy with “towns were important centers of society” (p. 165) Supplied food Supplied clothes Supplied other product to the king and nobles Had to keep enemy states from invading People were part-time soldiers Sent to war whenever needed

An Ancient City After 600 year rule the capital was moved New capital was today’s Anyang The bones earlier Described In the lesson led to the excavation of the ruins giving Information about the life in Shang Dynasty of China

Discoveries of Shang Dynasty Chariots found near the palace

Other Finds at Anyang Many huts Dug ½ into ground Pit houses Houses Workshops for metal workers, potters, servants Palaces Artifacts Bronze cups Stone carvings Chariots Royal tombs Dragon scales or bones

A Written Record Written language Oracle script or bones with patterns of cracks to answer questions Writing on tortoise shells Shell bone writing Priests heated bones Bones will crack Used to answer questions Characters stand for objects “Written on bamboo and silk” (p. 166) though none survived, Writing on bronze has survived. Dragon bones really cattle Refer to the divine

What the findings tell us Tell archeologists how rich the Shang Dynasty from discoveries from 1927-37 Grave belonged to king’s wife, Fu Hao of “Lady Hao” Led troops to war Ruled her own town Remembered in history because records of her life preserved in tomb Husband is Wu Ding depended on oracle bones to predict future

Lady Hao's Tomb http://curriculum. calstatela Lady Hao's tomb (ca. 1250 B.C.) is also called Tomb 5 of the Yin Ruins (Shang dynasty). This is one of the smaller tombs and not in the main royal cemetery. The pit is an oblong shaft with a measurement of 5.6m by 4m at the mouth and an orientation of 10 degree to the northeast. Toward the middle of both its eastern and western walls at a depth of about 6.2m is an elongated niche containing several sacrifices. The pit is provided at the bottom with a secondary earthen platforms on all four sides. On the bottom of the pit is a waist pit with a human sacrifice and a dog. There is a wooden chamber which is 5m long and 3.4-3.6m wide, and 1.3m high. Inside the chamber is a lacquered coffin, now rotted. The tomb occupant was interred with at least sixteen human sacrifices (four men, two women, two children and eight others of unknown sex and age). The burial objects were placed in the fillings of the tomb chamber, above the chamber, on the chamber top, in the space between the chamber and coffin, and inside the coffin. There are total of 1928 pieces in the tomb: 468 are bronzes, of which there were: Photograph of the excavation of Lady Hao's tomb 130 weapons 23 bells 27 knives 4 mirrors 4 tigers or tiger heads, 755 jade objects, 63 stone objects, 47 gemstone objects, 564 bone objects, of which there were: nearly 500 bone hairpins over 20 bone arrowheads 5 ivory objects, 11 pottery objects nearly 6,900 pieces of cowry shells Lady Hao probably is the same Lady Hao mentioned in many oracle bone inscriptions as one of the many wives of the King Wu Ding (c.1200 B.C.). She died before her husband and was subsequently given the posthumous title of Xin.

Organization of Shang Society King and Family Nobles Craftsmen Farmers Prisoners of War

Religion of the Shang Believed their ancestors lived in another world Ancestors controlled human life Oracle bones made predictions If predictions came true, they believed it was through the King’s ancestors helped him Proved he was the rightful ruler Polytheistic Gods controlled nature The dead joined their ancestors and the gods

Why It Matters Shang Dynasty created a legacy shaping life for centuries in China Beliefs Form of government Writing system

Reviewing Facts and Idea MAIN IDEAS Around 1700 BC the Shhang state won control over the Huany Valley region. This area was ruled by the Shang dynasty until 1100 BC. The Shang used writing to record and predict important events.

THINK ABOUT IT Describe the social pyramid of China during the Shang dynasty. What were oracle bones ?How were they used in ancient China? FOCUS: What were three artifacts found at Anyang? What do they tell us about the people who lived there? THINKING SKILL: Compare the Shang system of government with that of the pharaohs’ government in Egypt. GEOGRAPHY: Imagine you are a noble who is building a town in Shang China. Where would you decide to build? What would you consider in making your decision?

Bibliography http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/hist494a/archae/fuhaomu.htm