Shamanism; Shang Religion was based on ideas of ancestor worship, as well as a belief in nature gods, demons and magic.
Ancestor worship; the belief that your dead relatives control and guide your destiny. Thus respect and honor for them is necessary.
• Rulers were buried with their court and wives in large tombs.
Writing; The Shang Dynasty developed a writing system around 1766 B.C.E.
Bronze; The Shang dynasty had one of the most sophisticated methods for smelting bronze. Their bronze was extremely artistic.
Ancient China
I. Introduction:
• China has high mountains in the west, its rivers flow east, thus China was isolated from western culture.
• Chinese civilization begins along the Huang He (Yellow) River.
Yin; the capital of Shang Dynasty.
Founded ca. 1384 B.C.E.
Achievements:
•
• • • •
Oracle Bones Shamanism Writing System Bronze ware Sericulture
Oracle bone; Divination was practiced by heating tortoise shells till they cracked, then studying the cracks. The prediction was written on the shell.
• Due to unpredictable flooding the river was know as the River of Sorrow.
• China was known as “Chung-kuo”
(Central Kingdom), and this term reflects the Chinese opinion of the world. • The Chinese saw their country as the center of the world. The most advanced civilization. •Thus, the Chinese turns their backs to the West and faces East, geographically
culturally and politically.
Ancient China map
II. Lungshan & Yangshao: (Neolithic cities)
Achievements:
1.Developed the potters wheel. 2.Developed baked bricks for houses. 3.Harvested silk. 4.Developed irrigation systems.
Shang Bronze
Sericulture; The Shang dynasty was the first ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้o actively cultivate silk.
Political Power:
The king’s power was based on: •Land Ownership. Land and peasants were given to the nobility as payment for military service.
Hsia dynasty: Mythological rulers of ancient China Pan Gu (P’an-ku) Creator of the universe
Fuxi (Fu-his) taught the people to hunt & fish.
Shennong (Shen-nung) taught the people agriculture.
•War Chariot, giving the kings army an advantage on the plains of china.
• The religious authority of the king.
It was believed that rulers received their authority from the gods. It was called “The Mandate of Heaven.” As dynasties weakened and new leaders arose, the Chinese believed that the gods were removing their mandate and giving it to another.
Thus Hunting was a favorite pass time of the Shang nobility since they did not have to work.
•Monopoly of Bronze weapons & manufacturing. Death was the penalty for making bronze without royal permission.
Huangdi (Huang-ti) taught the people silk-making.
Yu taught large scale irrigation & flood control.
III. Shang Dynasty: First
dynasty in China from 1700-1000 B.C.E.