Here is a potential DBQ essay in response to the prompt about the Shang Dynasty:
The Shang Dynasty ruled China from around 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE and established a strong, centralized government and economy. Several documents from the Shang Dynasty provide evidence about political organization, social hierarchy, religious beliefs, and economic activities during this time period.
Document 1 describes the political structure of the Shang state, with the king at the top ruling over lesser nobles. This shows that the Shang had a hierarchical and authoritarian form of government with the king as the absolute ruler. Document 2 reinforces this, listing the king's various titles that emphasized his divine right to rule. Together, these documents demonstrate that the Shang had a