How did people live and work in the Shang Dynasty?

How did people live and work in the Shang Dynasty?

Most people were farmers. Noble warriors paid tributes to the Emperor who granted them land in return for their loyalty. The Shang were specialists in bronze work and many beautiful artefacts have been recovered from their tombs. The Shang believed in a supreme God, Shang Di, as well as subsidiary powers or spirits.

What were two responsibilities that Shang kings had?

Over time, court rituals to appease spirits developed, and in addition to his secular duties, the king would serve as the head of the ancestor worship cult. Often, the king would even perform oracle bone divinations himself, especially near the end of the dynasty.

What kind of economy did the Shang Dynasty have?

In summary, the Shang dynasty created an economy based on agriculture, trade, and the work of its craftspeople. Trade routes were used to connect them with faraway lands. While they traded directly in goods, they also used the cowrie shells as a system of currency.

Did the Shang Dynasty farm?

The farming society that began and flourished under the Shang Dynasty grew a variety of grains and crops. They also bred domestic animals and hunted. They grew some rice in this area during the Shang, but not like the full-scale growing of rice in the south.

What technology did the Shang Dynasty invent?

bronze technology
The Shang made many contributions to Chinese civilization, but four in particular define the dynasty: the invention of writing; the development of a stratified government; the advancement of bronze technology; and the use of the chariot and bronze weapons in warfare.

What type of social class did the Shang Dynasty have?

social classes. These were the king’s clan, nobles, craftspeople, traders, farmers, and slaves. The Shang practiced ancestor worship and, sometimes, human sacrifice.

What did the Shang Dynasty trade for?

The Shang Dynasty traded silks, jade, and bronzeware considerably. Trade of non-agricultural products occurred around the rivers such as the Yellow…

What did the Shang Dynasty write on?

The language of the Shang Dynasty is an early form of modern Chinese. Chinese characters first appeared during the Shang Dynasty inscribed on cattle bone and tortoise shells.

How did Shang Dynasty farm?

The majority of the people who lived under the Shang Dynasty were farmers. They grew millet, wheat and barley but not so much rice, which was farmed further south. A large irrigation scheme was constructed to bring the water from the Yellow River to the crops. They also kept sheep, pigs and oxen.

What was the job specialization of the Shang dynasty?

The job specializations in Shang were based around the most important exports and imports. They were mainly focused on the making of silk and bronze items. They also arranged for jade-workers to create jade. Bronzesmiths were used to make bronze weapons, armor, and vessels for war.

What kind of weapons did the Shang dynasty make?

They also arranged for jade-workers to create jade. Bronzesmiths were used to make bronze weapons, armor, and vessels for war. The weapons they made were mainly dagger-axes, arrows, bows, and helmets.

Why was bronze so important to the Shang dynasty?

At that time, bronze represented power, wealth, and luxury. By looking at the way bronze was used by the Shang, it is clear that only those with any degree of power in the kingdom had access to using bronze objects. Shang bronzes fall into two categories: weapons or ceremonial vessels for food and wine.

What was the role of the Shang king?

Within Shang culture, the king also functioned as a priest. It was believed that ancestors communicated through the god Di, and the Shang king led in the worship of Shangdi, considered the supreme ancestor, as well as communicating with the other ancestors.