Yellow River Homeland
What river valley was the center of Shang power?
The Huang He (Yellow River) valley
What is Anyang best known for in Shang history?
The site where ruins of a Shang city were discovered
Who led the Shang government?
The King
How many social classes were in Shang society?
6
What is ancestor worship?
Honoring ancestors with offerings because people believed ancestors could help or harm the living
Why did early farmers settle near rivers like the Yellow River?
Rivers provided water and fertile land for farming
Name two features archaeologists found in Shang cities at Anyang.
Palace, temple, houses, workshops (any two)
How did Shang kings extend control over their territory?
They set up smaller kingdoms led by younger brothers or nephews
Which social class was the largest group in Shang society?
Farmers
What were oracle bones used for?
Asking important questions and seeking predictions or advice
What is a clan in early China?
An extended family group
What did human bones found under palace foundations suggest about Shang beliefs or practices?
Human sacrifices were performed during construction
What metal gave Shang nobles strong weapons and made the army more powerful?
Bronze
What did Shang farmers do with most of their harvest?
They gave most of it to nobles, who sent a portion to the king
How were oracle bone messages “read” during the Shang?
A hot tool made the bone crack, and the cracks were interpreted as messages
How could one clan turn into a dynasty?
By becoming powerful enough to rule other clans and control the region
Name one item buried with Shang kings that shows belief in an afterlife.
Weapons, food containers, jade ornaments, chariots, pottery (any one)
What is a chariot in the Shang army?
A two-wheeled cart pulled by horses used in battle
What is one way artisans supported Shang rulers and nobles?
They made bronze weapons or created and decorated ritual containers and luxury goods
What is a logograph in Chinese writing?
A character that stands for a word rather than a sound
About how long did the Shang Dynasty rule (use the approximate dates from the reading)?
About 1750 to 1040 B.C.E.
A tomb diagram shows a large pit with ramps leading down into it. What were the ramps used for during royal burials?
To lead people, animals, and goods down into the tomb for burial and sacrifice
Give two reasons the Shang Dynasty fell.
Too many wars weakened the military, lavish spending weakened the economy, corruption of the last king, and the Zhou defeated them (any two)
What were cowrie shells used for, and what does that suggest about Shang trade?
They were used as money, and it suggests the Shang traded with other regions to get them
What is the name of the animal-mask design often seen on Shang bronze vessels?
Taotie
Write the six Shang social classes in order from highest to lowest.
King, nobles, artisans <---> traders, farmers, enslaved people.