(Shang and Zhou Dynasties)

Amaya Ramos, Nicole Fortoso and Devon Farris

Fun facts on the Shang Dynasty•Time Period: 1523 BC - 1028 BC

The Shang Dynasty is believed to be the oldest Chinese dynasty based on archaeological and documentary evidence. •Most of the writing from the Shang dynasty was inscriptions carved into animal bones, turtle shells, and bronze vessels.•Working with bronze became common during this dynasty, starting the Bronze Age.•The Shang people believed in human sacrifice.•Many people that fought in wars were peasants forced to leave their fields to walk alongside chariots.•The kingship went from brother to brother or brother to nephew instead of father to son like most cultures do.

Fun facts on the Zhou Dynasty• Time Period: 1046 BC - 221 BC (800 years)

• Kings were called the "Sons of Heaven“• -Longest lasting dynasty in Chinese History (about 800 years)• -Emperor Wu was the 1st official Zhou emperor• 1st sections of the Great Wall were built• -Divided into 2 parts: Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou• -Confucius was born during this dynasty• -Chopsticks were thought to be invented in the Zhou Dynasty•Also Know as the Chou dynasty

VIDEO• http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=157052

SPRITE• Shang was mostly an agricultural society • Farmers were sometime called to fight in the army or work

with slaves on building projects. • Shang ruling elite- a group of wealthy people who had free

time for leisure activities. • Chinas population increased and farmers learned new

techniques. • Their social classes went in the order of state officials at

the highest then peasants then craftsmen and merchants. • The Zhou Dynast lasted longer than any other Dynasty.

SPRITE• During the Shang period, china was ruled by a strong

monarchy. • To keep order in China, the King appointed governors

to rule distant parts of the kingdom• People started to rebel which was known as the

warring states period (403BC-221BC) they fought for land and power. • The government split land into nine squares in the

shape of the character “jing”, the middle square was own by the government and the rest was for farmers. This helped keep the food supply. • The Qin Dynasty arose to end the Zhou Dynasty.

SPRITE• Shang believed in an afterlife• Prisoners of war were sacrificed in the

tomb so they could serve the ruler in the afterlife • They worships ancestors • The Shang worshipped the “Shang Di,”

who was the supreme god that ruled over the lesser gods of the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, and other natural forces and places.• Conquered the Shang Dynasty • The Chinese believed that royal

authority is the result of divine approval (mandate of heaven)• They believed that anything that

became corrupt was the will of the gods.

SPRITE• The earliest examples of Chinese writing

during the Shang Dynasty is writing inscribed in oracle. During the Shang Dynasty the invention of writing; the development of a stratified government; the advancement of bronze technology; and the use of the chariot and bronze weapons in warfare were created. • The Shang and the Zhou Dynasties spoke

the same language and so did many other Chinese dynasties.• This language is known as old Chinese or

Archaic Chinese.

SPRITE• The Shang Dynasty is also known as bronze age, at that time bronze

represented power, wealth and luxury. Archeologists have dug up thousands of bronze pieces and artistry and workmanship of the bronze pieces reveal the Shang’s mastery of bronze technology.• The Zhou Dynasty used bronze as well but learned how to use iron

as a backup to strengthen their economy and their army for weapons, they made coins as well.

SPRITE• Most of the Shang Dynasty

income came from farming and harvesting crops. • The serfs and slaves preformed all

economic functions of society• Legacies say that the Shang

dynasty was threatened because had money for bronze and the army. • In the Zhou Dynasty most people

made their money by farming and selling iron and bronze.

Our Artifact Our artifact is a bronze knife, this was used during the Shang Dynasty which was also considered the

Bronze Age. During this time, men learned to mine and melt copper and tin to make bronze weapons and tools. The bronze knife was dated to 3000 BC.

The bronze knife was used as a weapon.

Works Cited• Hermanson, J.. N.p.. Web. 9 Feb 2014.

<http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/Staff/Hermansenjoel/World History Files/China/dynasty/wilson.htm>.• Lu, Y.. N.p.. Web. 9 Feb 2014.

<http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/yanglu/ECC_HISTORY_ZHOU DYNASTY.htm>.• . N.p.. Web. 9 Feb 2014.

<http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_4000bce_bronze.htm>.• Ruru Zhou, . N.p.. Web. 9 Feb 2014.

<http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/zhou-dynasty.htm>.