Shang and Zhou Dynasty TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty

Shang Dynasty 2000 BC farming along the Huang He turned into cities 1766 BC the Shang family began to control some cities and set up a dynasty A dynasty is when generations of a family rule Shang controlled the North China Plain TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty

Oracle Bones Shang families believed they could talk to the gods They talked to the gods using oracle bones Oracle bones were animal bones or turtle shells which the Shang scratch questions Next the priests touch the bones with heated rods to make them crack Priests interpreted the cracks TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty

Writing Shang developed their system of writing using pictographs Chinese system of writing uses a large number of symbols To barely be able to read or write a person had to know 1,500. An educated person has to know 10,000 characters The pictographs are unique because you can read them without being able to speak the language TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty

Zhou Dynasty Zhou moved south looking for new land and in 1027BC they fought with the Shang Wu Wang led an army which defeated the Shang The Zhou did not have a strong government. They put their family in charge of regions The local rulers, or lords, were loyal to the king As the population grew lords grew stronger and did not need the king The lords started fighting which led to the time of the Warring States in 403 BC TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty

Dynastic Cycle Historians found that Chinese Dynasties followed a pattern This pattern is known as the dynastic cycle The Mandate of Heaven was achieved when a ruler of a dynasty had the approval of the gods The Mandate of Heaven could be taken away if bad things happened like floods, uprisings or war These things were seen as a punishment from the gods TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty the geography of China and how it shaped its culture

Dynastic Cycle The cycle had 6 parts: 1. The new dynasty restores peace and order 2. Mandate of Heaven where the gods have given their approval of the new dynasty 3. Dynasty power grows weaker 4. Disasters such as flood, famines and invasions occur 5. People believe that the dynasty has lost the approval of the gods 6. The dynasty is overthrown TSW 2 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Shang dynasty TSW 3 outline the characteristics and accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty the geography of China and how it shaped its culture