 For 100 years was considered a myth until archeological dig of 1928 in Anyang The ancient China was not one country but number of clans of extended families led by warriors. They fought until one clan became more powerful than the others.

 -Led by a Kind who controlled all land  -to expand his power he set up smaller kingdoms under his younger brothers and nephews  -lots of wars were fought to keep the power  -Bronze is copper and tin, was used to make Shang weapons (one of the 1 st to use bronze)

 King and his relatives  Nobles-owned land that farmers farmed-hunted for wild animals (fox, badgers)  Crafts people-made things out of bronze, jade, potters, stonemasons  Traders-the Shangs traded a lot. Used cowrie shells as money (because they were valuable)  Farmers-largest social class-farmed noble’s and kings land-only kept a little for themselves  Slaves-captured in wars-spent life building tombs and palaces-when master died slaves sometimes sacrificed to serve master in afterlife.

 -ancestor worship  -Kings believed the dead ancestors gave advice on when to hung, go to war, build new city.  -oracle bone-made from turtle shell or cow’s shoulder blade  -the way oracle bone worked- holy man asks question, presses a hot needle against back of bone, depending on the crack of the bone the holy man decodes the message. (do example with paper)

 Writing  -writing on oracle bones are among the earliest known examples of Chinese writing  -logographs=Chinese characters=words  Art  -jade=type of stone  Technology  -Because of Bronze the Shangs remained in power for over 500 years. (Bronze weapons saved their butts)

 No one knows exactly some say:  -fighting many wars weakened the military power of Shang  -kings and nobles spent all their money away  -the king instead of looking after his kingdom spent too much time on pleasurable activities.  -when the end of Shang Dynasty came and the Zhou was taking over, it is said that the king grabbed all his jewelry and threw himself into the fire.