SHANG DYNASTY (YELLOW RIVER)

By: Daniel Evans, Fred Balce, Mark Dimzon, Jordan Wolczyk, Matthew Rotor-Murphy and

Michael Vieira

POLTICAL

The Emperor was in control but had nobles that were part of his family controlling towns and other areas that the emperor didn't have time for.

This is majorly a monarchy but has the essence of a oligarchy. They would get control by either inheriting control or by over

throwing the leader. There is one leader who is talked of a lot from the Shang

dynasty. That is Wu Ding Who spent his earlier years among the common people studying and learning of there problems. When he took over after his father he fixed those problems. He was a caring and understanding leader. He made allies of neighbouring tribes. He also conquered lots of land around his empire. He is regarded as one of the greatest emperors of the Shang dynasty and ruled for 59 years.

POLITICAL CONTINUED...

The military consisted of nobles armed with stone or bronze weapons and sometimes had chariots. Also the common people were also sent to fight but they were from city garrisons that were equipped by the aristocrats and other state rulers.

A significant battle was the Battle of Muye which was against the Zhou people which ended the Shang dynasty and Brought upon the Zhou dynasty.

The Shang dynasty lasted for 554 years.

SOCIAL

Class structure was divided into 2 classes:

Commoners Nobility

All headed by priest king

ROLES THEY FILL FOR CIVILIZATION

The commoners are controlled by local war chiefs

they help the war chiefs while they live off their land

The war chiefs pay taxes and such to own the land given by the king or wang

The king maintains power and religious leadership

UPPER CLASS

the upper class was made up of the king, the knights and scholars

As long as you had nobility, intelligence, and/or money, you were a part of the upper part of society

WHY CARE ABOUT THEM?

The upper class essentially ran the shang dynasty

Since they had ties to the king and other powerful figures, they were a force to be reckoned with

FAMILY STRUCTURE

Oldest male was the head of the family If someone messed up, the whole

family is disgraced Arranged marriages to strengthen and

unite 2 clans

ROLE OF WOMEN/WIFE

Be gentle, calm, respectful, and obey husband

ROLE OF MEN/HUSBAND

Head of the family

EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR CLASS STRUCTURE

Nobles hired private tutors for their children, while commoners didn’t have formal schooling, but rather were apprenticed by craftsmen and learned applicable skills

Mainly the nobles’ children are the only ones educated

The education stays traditional and true to its roots

SHANG DYNASTY’S WAY OF LIFE

They valued the family unit, and the respect and dignity of the family. In the family the keeper of the culture was the father followed by the eldest son, the overall keeper of culture was the emperor and nobles. They worshiped the gods and their ancestors. The put a lot of effort into their gods and ancestors and they were very religious

SHANG DYNASTY’S WAY OF LIFE CONT.

During the Shang Dynasty bronze work was evolving and the production of bronze increased; they used bronze for their art and to record their culture

The people of the Shang Dynasty believed that God dominates the world. Sacrifice ceremonies were typically grand events. They worshipped many different gods - weather gods, sky gods, and gods for almost everything - and also a supreme god, named Shan Di who ruled over the other gods.

CHOPSTICKS WERE INVENTED

ECONOMIC What is their major economic activity?

- Agriculture How do they maintain their civilization?

- Handicraft Industry- Silk Production- Hunting in autumn

Who does the labour?- Slaves, they worked for the state

ECONOMIC CONT...

How did they profit?- they don’t

Who owns the means of production?- the government

How do they profit?- they sell what they make

EDUCATION

Formal education did not exist at the time of the Shang Dynasty.

Values ,teachings and abilities had to be taught through writing and personal means.

Teaching happened from others such as parents, families and friends. Wealthy families most likely hired tutors.

They would be taught specific trades. A strong education system would have been

necessary to maintain the writing system which the Chinese still use today.

GEOGRAPHY/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The red squares in the map symbolize the sites of the Shang residents according to traditional historians. China`s eastern border: Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Pacific Ocean. Gobi Desert to the north, Taklimakan Desert to the west. Pamir, Tian Shan, Himalaya mountains curve around western border.

GEOGRAPHY/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CONT...

Due to where The Shang dynasty was located it was difficult to trade goods and spread ideas. China developed very distinctly.

The two major river systems were: Central Shang Jiang (Yangtze) and Northern Huang He (yellow river).

China is similar to U.S. - dry in west - seasonal in north - warm in southeast - rice grown in moist south; wheat and millet grown in drier north Geography impacts china`s economy because of where it was

located it was hard to trade with other countries. Geography impacts the culture of china because when the culture was at its highest the people extended the south of the Yangtese river.