The Shang Dynasty, existing from 1783 to 1134 BCE, thrived alongside the Huang He River through advancements in agriculture, an early writing system, and bronze metallurgy. The Shang developed a complex writing system used for oracles and utilized cowry shells as currency for trade, which included goods like salt and iron. Notably, their bronze industry was highly advanced, producing weapons and tools, marking significant technological progress in ancient China.

1. Shang Dynasty
By: Matthew Cheung
For Mr. Haskvitz

2. Shang Dynasty LocationShang Dynasty Location
 Located about theLocated about the
Huang He RiverHuang He River
 Let the civilizationLet the civilization
thrive on the riverthrive on the river
 Fishing, water, andFishing, water, and
growing cropsgrowing crops

3. Shang CivilizationShang Civilization
1783-1134 B.C1783-1134 B.C
Agriculture: Hunting and AnimalAgriculture: Hunting and Animal
HusbandryHusbandry
Developed early writing systemDeveloped early writing system
Bronze MetallurgyBronze Metallurgy

4. The Writing System
 Developed in 1300 B.C.E
 More than three thousand characters
 Written on bones of cattle, deer,
seashells, turtle shells, and wood
 Written to predict future like oracles
 Has two parts to the word
 One part is meaning, and other part is
pronunciation

5. Turtle ShellsTurtle Shells
 The Shang peopleThe Shang people
wrote on these turtlewrote on these turtle
shells to predict theshells to predict the
futurefuture

6. AgricultureAgriculture
 Civilization along the Yellow River hadCivilization along the Yellow River had
canals for irrigating cropscanals for irrigating crops
 Communities had drains that ran water outCommunities had drains that ran water out
of townof town
 They extended their trading and usedThey extended their trading and used
money in the form of cowry shellsmoney in the form of cowry shells
 Shang merchants traded in salt, iron,Shang merchants traded in salt, iron,
copper, tin, lead and antimonycopper, tin, lead and antimony
 Grew wheat, barley, and milletGrew wheat, barley, and millet

7. Cowry ShellsCowry Shells
 The Shang peopleThe Shang people
used these shells asused these shells as
moneymoney
 To protect againstTo protect against
evil, one carried it asevil, one carried it as
an amulet and put itan amulet and put it
into the grave ofinto the grave of
deceaseddeceased

8. The Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age
 As early as the 1300 BCE a bronze castingAs early as the 1300 BCE a bronze casting
industry had developedindustry had developed
 They made bronze spears, daggers, and armorThey made bronze spears, daggers, and armor
 This was later than the rise of bronze casting inThis was later than the rise of bronze casting in
Europe and West Asia, but it was the mostEurope and West Asia, but it was the most
advanced in the worldadvanced in the world
 Copper mixed with small amount of tinCopper mixed with small amount of tin

9. Bronze Items
 Art:
 Pottery
 Weapons:
 Daggers

10. Self Assessment
 What did the Shang people use the writing
system for?
 What did the Shang people use as currency?
 How did the Huang He river affect the Shang
Dynasty?
 Name two things that the Shang people made
from bronze.

11. Answers
 Predicting the future
 Cowry Shells
 Helped the civilization thrive with water,
fishing, and crop growing
 Pottery and Daggers

12. The EndThe End