1. Slideshow from www.advancedplacementhistory.com
The History of China
Shang Dynasty
Slideshow from

2. Chinese Dynasties Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1122 BCE -256 BCE
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220AD
Later Han Dynasty 25 AD AD
Period of Disunion 220 AD - 589
Sui Dynasty 589 AD AD
Tang Dynasty 618 AD AD
Sung Dynasty 969 AD AD
Yuan Dyansty 1279 AD AD
Ming Dynasty 1368 AD AD

3. Geography Northern China vs. Southern
North China
Cold Winters
Soils are dry and permeable
Agriculture requires drought resistant crops
South China
Warmer and wetter
Waterlogged fields
Agriculture thrives on rice

4. Shang Dynasty Shang dynasty
Construction of cities along the Hwang He river
Shang cites are, on average, 20 times larger than past
Elite homes are walled-in from surrounding communities
Higher proportion of jade and other elite goods in society

5. An-yang – capital of Shang
large ceremonial and govt center with monumental architecture surrounded by craft areas.
Residential areas surrounded the center of the city
Located on the Hwang He

6. Anyang Tombs

7. Central govt power
Influence varied according to distance from the capital.
Shang rulers traveled widely and were assisted by a complex hierarchy of nobles.
Local lords were responsible for collecting taxes and supplying men for public projects.
Armies as large as 30,000 soldiers were assembled to fight “barbarians.”

8. Shang Economy

9. Shang farming Millet was the main crop in North China.
rice and wheat in Southern China
Stone hoes, harvesting knives, and wooden digging sticks used
Irrigation common
agricultural labor may have encouraged rural families to grow
led to large-scale population growth.

10. Shang bronze Shang civilization is famous for its bronzework.
Bronze was used to make food and drinking vessels, weapons, chariot and cavalry fittings, and musical instruments.
Indications are that the origins of bronzeworking were local not imported

11. Shang Religion Ancestor worship common
Polytheistic nature gods also common
Worship of natural dieties (gods of water, wind, fire, rock, earth)
Ancestor Worship – result of strong belief in family and importance of family taking care of each other
Folk Spirits – similar to the bogeyman, tooth fairy, leprechauns

12. Shang social system Kings are divine
The king and his court received grain as tribute that they used to support a lavish lifestyle.
The lower class consisted of farmers and craftworkers.
At the bottom of the lower class were the war captives, who were kept as slaves or served as sacrificial victims for rituals and temple dedications.

13. Shang Intellectual Life
Writing
Early government systems
First significant cities
Basic civilization characteristics

14. Shang writing Chinese writing was formalized during Shang times.
Chinese written language to included over 3,000 symbols.
Chinese writing was related closely to the political, military, and ritual activities of the upper class
Only writing that preserves is found on ritual artifacts…