The Shang Dynasty
By: Polina, Jay, Gabriela, Mikal, and Gianluca
Map of Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty Oracle Bone
This artifact is an example of the Shang Dynasty's earliest writing system- this was the most important
First Emperor of the Shang Dynasty
This man had founded the Shang Dynasty. His name was T'ang, also known as the Yellow Emperor.
Polina Shcherbakova - Historian
The Shang Dynasty had a very hard writing system with 5,000 pictograms, and they considered their emperor the most important thing- he was at the top of the social pyramid. Then it was the the military nobility, priests, merchants, and lastly farmers.
The Shang Dynasty was ended by Wu-Wang, through repeated battles. At the time the Shang Dynasty was weakened by repeated battles, and the last one really made a mark on them when Wu-Wang, a rebel leader defeated the Shang DYnasty in 1111 B.C..
Mikal Muhammad and Gianluca Melloni-Archeologist
The Shang dynasty begun in 1600 BC and ended 1046 BC because they were overthrown by the Zhang people. The Shang were really important because they were the first Dynasty in China and they invented Chinese writing. There are not many legends or myths but if the king died the throne would go to the closest relation to him.
Gabriela Warner-Anthropologist
The king was very important to the Shang civilization. He was always very nice and respectful, like a king should be. they would go to see him for help, such as spiritual go-betweens of the royal clan, and just to see him. They would also talk about the gods to him.
The Shang Dynasty was advanced in many ways. They learned how to make weapons. They taught themselves bronzework. They would also make cups, plates, and pots made out of clay. Some people think they were the ones to make the pottery wheel.
Another way they were advanced was they made a social pyramid. This was also a way of communication. They would have the king at the top, then the military nobility, priests,merchants, and last the farmers. Although farmers were at the bottom, they were very important.
Other then the kings they would worship, they would value their gods and goddesses. They would make sacrifices for the gods. The gods help them with their daily lives and their social life. The gods would bring joy to the people of the Shang Dynasty.