The Shang and the Zhou Dynasties

1. The Shang and the Zhou Dynasties

2. MIDDLE KINGDOM • Gobi Desert • Mongolian Plateau • Tibetan Plateau • Himalaya Mountains • Mountain Ranges • Rain Forests

3. Government and Society Order Agricultural Society • China ruled by strong monarchy • At capital city, Anyang, kings surrounded by court • Rituals performed to strengthen kingdom, keep safe • King’s governors ruled distant parts of kingdom • King also had large army at disposal • Prevented rebellions, fought outside opponents • Shang China largely agricultural • Most tended crops in fields • Farmers called on to fight in army, work on building projects—tombs, palaces, walls The Shang Dynasty According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1650 BCE, although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that.

4. SOCIAL CLASSES OF TRADITIONAL CHINA Position in Society Affected by: • Age, Gender, Education, & Occupation • Young Respect Elders • Women Inferior to Men • Scholars Highest Positions in Society • Peasants More Valuable than Merchants or Soldiers • Education could lead to Social Mobility

6. FAMILY LIFE OF TRADITIONAL CHINA Joint Family Ideal Many Generations One Household Oldest Male Most Authority Family Interests Come Ahead of Individual Young Completely Obedient to Elders Filial Piety: Respect for Elders or Ancestors Marriages were arranged, family decision

7. Shang Elite • Leisure • Ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport • Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects • Artifacts • Much of what is known comes from studying royal tombs • Contained valuable items made of bronze, jade • Afterlife • Tombs held remains of sacrificed prisoners of war • Believed in afterlife where ruler would need riches, servants • Ancestor Worship • Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife • Steam from ritual meals nourished ancestors’ spirits

8. Oracle Bones As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice • Sought advice through use of oracle bones • Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell • Living person asked question of ancestor • Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface • Specially trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

9. Shang Achievements and Decline • Writing • Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones • Earliest examples of Chinese writing, questions written on bones themselves • Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas • Bronze • Shang religion led to great advances in working with bronze • Highly decorative bronze vessels, objects created for religious rituals • Also built huge structures like tombs; created calendar, first money systems • End of Dynasty • Shang ruled for more than 600 years, until about 1100 BCE • Ruling China’s growing population proved too much for Shang • Armies from nearby tribe, Zhou, invaded, established new ruling dynasty

10. Government Dynastic Cycle • When Zhou conquered Shang, leaders worried Chinese people would not accept them • Introduced idea they ruled by Mandate of Heaven • Gods would support just ruler, not allow anyone corrupt to hold power • Zhou said Shang overthrown because they lost gods’ favor • Later rulers used Mandate of Heaven to explain dynastic cycle, rise and fall of dynasties in China • If dynasty lost power, it obviously had become corrupt The Zhou Dynasty Beginning around 1100 BC, the Zhou rules China for several centuries. The Zhou dynasty is divided into two periods. During the Western Zhou, kings ruled during a peaceful period. Later conflict arose, kings moved east, beginning the Eastern Zhou period. In that case, they said, it was the will of the gods that that dynasty be overthrown and a new one take power.

11. Growth Decline of the Zhou • Population grew under Zhou • Farmers learned new techniques, increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew • Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication • Introduced coins, use of chopsticks • Conflict arose during latter part of Zhou dynasty • Clan leaders within China rose up against king • As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Zhou, further weakening rule Zhou Achievements • Before Zhou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze • Zhou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy • Iron was strong, could be cast more cheaply, quickly than bronze • Iron weapons strengthened Zhou army