Run through on China's Shang Dynasty

1. Shang Dynasty
1600 to 1050 BCE

3. General Information
• Marked the middle of China’s Bronze Age
• The first dynasty to have left written
records and solid archaeological evidence
of its existence
• Birthplace or cradle of Chinese civilization

4. General Information
• Its founder is Cheng Tang
• Monarchy
• Has different capital
cities
• Shang (first and an
ancestral capital)
• Yin (last and a
political capital)

5. Rise and Population
• Originally a tribe living in the lower regions
of yellow river under Xia Dynasty
• Established by King Tang in 1675 BC
• 13.5 million people

7. Emperors
Names -----------
Years
In
Power
(1) Tang
- Abolished Persecution and Oppression
- Society was stable and the people lived happy
lives during his reign.
30
(9) Tai Wu
-The dynasty was most prosperous in his reign
- Great crop harvests 75
(19) Pan Geng
- Moved capital of Shang Dynasty to Yin
- Oracle bones unearthed alternatively record
that he was the 18th
king
28
(22) Wu Ding
- Enlarged domain through war
- Social productivity developed (textile,
medicine, astronomy)
59
(30) Zhou
- Acted atrociously toward his people
- Doted on his imperial concubine, Daji.
- Defeated by the tribe of Zhou.
33

8. Religion and culture
• Practiced polytheism (Shang Di = High
God)
• Civilization was based on agriculture,
hunting and animal husbandry
• Enjoyed the most advanced bronze
civilization in the world

9. The End of the Shang
• 1050 BCE
• Conquerors from the state of Zhou

10. Contributions
• The Invention of Writing
-Oracle bone inscriptions
-Bronze objects
• A Stratified Government and Society
-Hierarchy

11. Oracle Bones
• Marked the beginning of written Chinese
history
• Used to make predictions about the future

13. • Bronze Technology
-Weapons
-Ceremonial vessels for food or wine
-Bronze was not used for common tools,
such as hammers or hoes.
-Piece-mold casting

14. • The Use of Chariot and Bronze
Weapons in Warfare
-Bronze-tipped halberd and spear
-Compound bow
-Horse-drawn chariots

16. References
• http://www.chinese-traditions-and-
culture.com/shang-dynasty.html
• http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/chinady
nasties/p/032509ShangDynst.htm
• http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/hist
ory/shang/

17. END