2. The Shang Dynasty – 1766-1027 BCE Settled In: Capital was located at: Social Classes: Huang He River Valley Ao and Yin Ao – Massive city walls – 33ft high, 10,000 workers 20 years to build Yin – Royal palaces, written documents, burial tombs Kings – controlled surplus crops, military, public works projects Nobles, priests and warriors were respected Artisans, merchants, peasants and slaves Women seen as inferior
3.
4. The Shang Dynasty Cheng Yang of the Shang, Chinese Emperor, said to have reigned BC 1766. The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) is the first confirmed historic Chinese dynasty and ruled in the northeastern region of China proper. The Shang dynasty followed the quasi-legendary Xia Dynasty and preceded the Zhou Dynasty.
5.
6. The Shang Dynasty Achievements: Role of Family: System of writing – pictographs Oracle Bones, calligraphy, leather armor, bronze weapons, horse drawn chariots, pottery, jade and ivory carvings Principle institution for socialization and preservation of traditions Patriarchal – head of family led religious ceremonies and rites.
7. The Shang Dynasty Religious Beliefs: Family and Religion linked together ____________________ - belief that spirits of family ancestors had the power to bring good fortune or disaster. Consulted gods through the use of ____________ (animal bones and tortoise shells on which priests had scratched questions for the gods. _____________________. King was the head of the ancestor- and spirit-worship cult. Nobles were buried with articles of value for use in the afterlife. Practiced _____________________(if a king died, more than 100 slaves, some beheaded, some thrown in alive, might have to join him in his grave); Writing: Ancestor Veneration Foretell the future Oracle Bones First Dynasty to leave a written record Shang scribes kept written accounts of major events and used pictographs. Human sacrifice
8. “ Shaman figure” cast on a ceremonial bronze drum (Style IV) rubbing, c. 12th century BC, Shang dynasty.
10. Zhou Dynasty – 1027-221 BCE _________________________________________________:A Just Ruler has divine approval, or right to rule given by God. A wicked or foolish ruler could lose the Mandate of Heaven. Floods and riots are signals that the ancestral spirits are unhappy with a King’s rule. __________________________:A political system in which nobles or lords are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king. In return, the nobles owe loyalty and military service to the king and protection to the people who live on their estates. Mandate of Heaven (Tian – Heavenly power) Feudalism
11. Zhou Dynasty – 1027-221 BCE Zhou Wen Wang ("literate," or "accomplished king") had become wrongfully imprisoned by the evil last emperor of the Shang. In prison he occupied himself with a study of the Yjing (Book of Changes) until he was released as a result of the outcries of his people and led a revolt! Wen Wang was considered an ideal monarch, intelligent and benevolent. The Zhou dynasty had its capital at Hao, near the city of Xi'an (or Chang'an). The Zhou, through conquest and colonization, gradually extended Shang culture through much of China north of the Yangtze River.
14. Archaeologists work at the large tomb of the Western Zhou Dynasty at the site of the Zhougong Temple. Archaeologists have so far found 22 tombs of the highest rank.
