Shang Dynasty Shang may have built the first

Shang Dynasty • Shang may have built the first Chinese cities • Anyang in Northern China was China’s first capital

Shang Dynasty • People of the Shang Dynasty divided into groups • King and family-most powerful • Later they chose warlords to govern territories • The controlled larger armies to defend the borders.

Shang Dynasty • Under the king the warlords made up the upper class or aristocrats. • Aristocrats- noble whose wealth came from land ownership

Shang Dynasty • Few people were artisans or traders. • Most were farmers who worked the land for the aristocrats • END 7 -1 A

Shang Dynasty • Spirits & Ancestors • People worshipped gods and spirits • Believed that god and spirits were to be kept happy by making offerings of food and other goods.

Shang Dynasty • Spirits & Ancestors • People also honored their departed family members. • Offerings were made in the hope that ancestors would help in time of need and bring good luck.

Shang Dynasty • Telling the future • Shang kings believed they received power and wisdom from the gods. • Shang religion was closely linked together just like the Egyptians and Mesopotamians.

Shang Dynasty • Telling the future • The kings asked for the gods help by using oracle bones. • Kings would scratch questions into bones and a priest would interpret the answers

Shang Dynasty • Chinese Language • Chinese language uses pictographs and ideographs • Pictographs- characters that stand for objects • Ideographs-join 2 or more pictographs to make an idea

Shang Dynasty • Shang Artists • Shang artists made vases and dishes with fine white clay • Carved statues from Ivory and jade

Zhou Dynasty • Wu Wang • 1045 BC led a revolt against the Shang Dynasty, because the Shang began treating people cruelly. • Wu then started the Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty • Ruled for more than 800 years. • Ruled similar to the Shang • Had a large bureaucracy • Bureaucracy- group of appointed officials responsible for different areas of govt.

Zhou Dynasty • The Zhou copied the Shang system in dividing the country into smaller territories • Chinese considered the king the link between earth and heaven.

Zhou Dynasty • Mandate of Heaven • Zhou rulers said a heavenly law gave them the power to rule. • This was called the Mandate of Heaven