Shang Dynasty
After China's 1st dynasty, the Xia dynasty, there was the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty is the first dynasty with written history in China. It started approximately around 1700 B.C. and ended around 1027 B.C. One of the Shang dynasty's capitals is the city of Anyang.
This was the start of China's bronze age. They built bronze chariots and weapons such as axes. Bronze was also associated wit royalty so the tombs of Shang kings were filled with many bronze objects. The wife of King Wu Ding, Lady Hao, had her tomb filled with about 460 bronze artifacts.
The tombs of different people depended on there place in the social pyramid. At the top of the pyramid was the king. He would have elaborate pit tombs containing items used in the afterlife. Follow the king are military nobility, priests, merchants, farmers and peasants. The lesser classes had tombs with sizes that depends on their status. The lowest classes were sometimes even thrown down wells.
The tombs of different people depended on there place in the social pyramid. At the top of the pyramid was the king. He would have elaborate pit tombs containing items used in the afterlife. Follow the king are military nobility, priests, merchants, farmers and peasants. The lesser classes had tombs with sizes that depends on their status. The lowest classes were sometimes even thrown down wells.
The city, Anyang, was a city built primarily out of wood since it was located in a forest clearing. There were large walls constructed of packed earth that was used for protection. These walls presumably took many years and even more workers to build. Farmers and peasants lived outside these walls in small huts. People living on the inside of the wall were of higher class. These walls were needed because war was waged almost constantly so they needed protection.
The Shang constructed irrigation channels and flood controls for the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. Their main crops consisted of wheat, rice and barley. Agriculture was their major source of food. They also domesticated pigs, dogs, sheep, oxen and silkworms.
The Shang constructed irrigation channels and flood controls for the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. Their main crops consisted of wheat, rice and barley. Agriculture was their major source of food. They also domesticated pigs, dogs, sheep, oxen and silkworms.
The people of the Shang dynasty were polytheistic but mostly worshiped the god Shang Ti. He is believed to be the link between people and heavenly beings. They also believed in ancestor worship. This means that the happiness of their deceased ancestors determined their health and wealth. If their ancestors were unhappy, they would be unfortunate.
The dynasty started to decline because it was weakened by battles with nomads and rival tribes. They were finally overthrown by the Zhou. The Zhou started their own dynasty but they adopted a lot of Shang culture.
The dynasty started to decline because it was weakened by battles with nomads and rival tribes. They were finally overthrown by the Zhou. The Zhou started their own dynasty but they adopted a lot of Shang culture.