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The Shang (Yellow River) Dynasty

Eleni Forakis, Abby Huebler, Missy Dee

Beginning of a Central Government

-had a kingship

-Tzu= ruling class

-When the king died, rule went to his next oldest brother

In summary, the Shang Dynasty is a civilization because it meets pretty much every criteria it takes to be a civilization.

Trade Over Long Distances

-Cowry shells functioned as currency

-Traded with Mesopotamian Indus Valley Civilizations

-Trade bronze items and later silk (when silk cultivation was discovered)

Beginning of Science

Unique Art Style

-Crafted Jewelry

-Made pottery

-Metallurgy (mostly created things with bronze, as it was plentiful)

-Created wheeled vehicles like chariots

-Made tools out of bronze

-Came up with a calendar that consisted of 360 days, 12 months, 30 days per month, and even mapped the lunar cycle.

Variety/Ranking of Social Positions

Writing or a System of Notation

-Tzu= ruling class/family

-Members of noble Tzu clan were well-educated state officials or feudal lords.

-Common people= farmed nobles' land, worked in crafts

-Slaves= same work as commoners, but could be used as human sacrifices. (they believed in human and animal sacrifices to the gods which kept them happy, especially Shang Ti, the most important and powerful god)

-Often wrote on oracle bones and skull bones

-First writing consisted of religious divination

-Origins of Chinese writing are deeply rooted in Shang religion

Large Public Buildings

-Temples

-Palaces

-"City-within-a-city"

-Workshops

-Trading Centers

-Military Encampments

-Buildings were large and rectangular with wood columns to support the roof. The walls were filled with tamped earth, which kept the weather out and gave security to its inhabitants.

Ability to Produce and Store Surplus

-Domesticated animals like cows, oxen, pigs, dogs, chickens, and ducks

-Hunted to provide extra meat

-They were involved with agriculture

Variety of Specialized Occupations

-Military

-Artisans (craft-workers)- crafted with bronze

-Farmers

-Hunters

-Scribes

Large/Thickly Populated Settlements

-Established "city-within-a-city"

-Inner city contained palace & government center

-Outer city contained trading centers, homes, and workshops

-Capital= Yin (modern day Anyang)

Shang Dynasty

1523-1027 BCE

-Huang River

-Yellow River

-Located in modern-day China

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