The Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE 1027 BCE Writing
![The Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE – 1027 BCE The Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE – 1027 BCE](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-1.jpg)
The Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE – 1027 BCE
![Writing • The Shang Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to communicate with Writing • The Shang Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to communicate with](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-2.jpg)
Writing • The Shang Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to communicate with writing. • Some Chinese writing evolved from pictographs created during the Shang Dynasty period. • About 4500 characters have been found, and 1000 can be connected to Chinese writing today.
![Society • The Shang people were ruled by a king who was believed to Society • The Shang people were ruled by a king who was believed to](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-3.jpg)
Society • The Shang people were ruled by a king who was believed to be a descendant of the supreme god, Shang Ti. • As the son of god he was thought to have the divine right to rule; this was called the “mandate of heaven”.
![Society • The king made many of his decisions by casting oracle bones. The Society • The king made many of his decisions by casting oracle bones. The](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-4.jpg)
Society • The king made many of his decisions by casting oracle bones. The question would be written on a piece of ox bone or tortoise shell and cracked using high temperatures. The cracks would be read as saying: yes, no, lucky, or unlucky.
![Society • Shang society was divided into classes: the king (also religious leader), nobles Society • Shang society was divided into classes: the king (also religious leader), nobles](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-5.jpg)
Society • Shang society was divided into classes: the king (also religious leader), nobles (war leaders and land owners), crafts people and merchants, and farmers (the largest amount of people), and finally slaves.
![Society • Farmers provided food for the country, helped by working on the great Society • Farmers provided food for the country, helped by working on the great](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-6.jpg)
Society • Farmers provided food for the country, helped by working on the great buildings of the kingdom, and were soldiers during times of war. • Slaves were often prisoners of war, and they worked under threat of death.
![Society • Crafts people worked with bronze and jade. They were skilled at making Society • Crafts people worked with bronze and jade. They were skilled at making](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-7.jpg)
Society • Crafts people worked with bronze and jade. They were skilled at making weapons, tools, jewellery, pottery, and fine silk cloth. • Merchants used rice or cowrie shells as money. Metal coins were invented in the 5 th century BCE. At first they were long and thin, but later made round with a hole in the middle to string on belts.
![Bronze Jade Bronze Jade](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-8.jpg)
Bronze Jade
![Bronze weapon from Shang Dynasty. Bronze weapon from Shang Dynasty.](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-9.jpg)
Bronze weapon from Shang Dynasty.
![• The basic food of the Shang people was millet (a type of • The basic food of the Shang people was millet (a type of](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-10.jpg)
• The basic food of the Shang people was millet (a type of grain). Barley and wheat were also grown. • Vegetables and beans were grown in gardens, fish were caught from the rivers, and animals such as deer and bears were hunted on the plains. • By the Shang dynasty, the Chinese had domesticated pigs, dogs, goats, sheep, water buffalo, and some fowl. Food
![Food • With the unpredictable river flooding or causing drought, the Chinese often experienced Food • With the unpredictable river flooding or causing drought, the Chinese often experienced](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-11.jpg)
Food • With the unpredictable river flooding or causing drought, the Chinese often experienced famine and starvation.
![Food • People in Asia have been drinking tea for centuries. • According to Food • People in Asia have been drinking tea for centuries. • According to](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-12.jpg)
Food • People in Asia have been drinking tea for centuries. • According to Chinese mythology, tea was invented in 2737 BCE, when the Chinese emperor was sitting beneath a tea tree and leaf fell into his boiling water. • Tea became one of Chinas most valuable trading product between English traders and the Chinese.
![Tea? Or tea? Tea? Or tea?](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-13.jpg)
Tea? Or tea?
![Loose Leaf Tea Loose Leaf Tea](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-14.jpg)
Loose Leaf Tea
![Food Where do fortune cookies come from? ? ? • Shang people used chopsticks Food Where do fortune cookies come from? ? ? • Shang people used chopsticks](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/18bd798a73cabcf6ceb7295b654d0b38/image-15.jpg)
Food Where do fortune cookies come from? ? ? • Shang people used chopsticks for eating and cooking; they boiled, steamed, or stir fried their food.
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