2nd+hour+2011-2012+Shang

商代 (Shang Dynasty)

**Introduction- Niki Hammett** The Shang Dynasty started in 1650 B.C. and lasted until 1027 B.C. During this time period, Chinese civilization took shape and had many changes, ideas and achievements. Some of these things lasted until present day China. Chinese history began in the Huang He Valley, where Neolithic people began to farm. The Huang He got its name from the fine, yellow soil carried eastward from Siberia and Mongolia. It got the nickname River of Sorrows because when the sand settled into the bottom of the river, the water would get higher and overflow. Chinese peasants had to constantly build and repair the river. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)



**Written Language-Niki Hammett**

4,000 years ago, the Chinese language was invented. People used ideographs and calligraphy to write. Ideographs are signs that expressed thoughts or ideas. Calligraphy is Chinese characters and symbols that have different meanings. Tens of thousands of characters were invented, and Chinese still remains one of the hardest languages to learn. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)



** Art & architecture- Brooke Johnson. **

The beginning of Chinese art was about 5000 B.C., that's when Stone Age people made stuff out of bone, stone, and pottery. Chinese painting and pottery was not the same as it is today, Chinese painting was ornamental and not to represent something or someone. Stone Age people painted zigzags, spirals, and dots on pottery they made, they rarely painted human figures or animals. They also made some stuff out of bronze that lasted from the Shang dynasty to the Han dynasty, and they also used jade which is a hard gorgeous stone that the Chinese valued a lot. (Scholastic Inc, 1996-2011)

**Government-K’Neesha** **Jackson** In China, the thought of government was unnatural. Still the Shang had rulers. The king led other warriors into battle. The warriors emerged to drive off nomads from the northern deserts and steppes. The rich tombs and palaces of Shang rulers have been uncovered by archaeologists. The wife of Shang king, Wu Ding, Fu Hao’s burial place has been discovered. She also a considerable status during the Shang period. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)



** Religion: **** Brooke Johnson **

Daoism was one of the religions in china it was way different than Confucianism and legalism. It was founded by Laozi, and didn’t want to bring order to human affairs so they chose to live in harmony and nature. Daoists turned away society and started to become hermits, mystics, poets, and artist. Also Daoists didn’t like the government they thought of it as un natural and that it caused many problems, and so the best government they thought was the one that did the least. Buddhism was a religion that existed by A.D. 100 it spread from India to China, china at first had a hard time taking in Buddhism because they believed in monks and nuns who gave family up, when the Chinese believed family loyalty. Buddhism offered happiness and a merciful god, this became an popular religion in china. Buddhism took in Confucian and Daoist traditions, by A.D. 400 Buddhism was spread all throughout china.

**Social Classes-K’Neesha** **Jackson** Families who were noble lived in stone or timber houses. Merchants and Artisans were supported by China. The merchants organized trade, crafts and the exchanging of food. The artisans made jade jewelry, silk robes, and bronze weapons. Both of these kinds of people were important to the early civilization of China. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)

**Job Specialization-Niki Hammett** Ironworking reached China in 500 B.C. People made iron axes, and ox-drawn iron plows. In 1000 B.C., the Chinese people discovered how to make silk. They discovered how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. They wove silk threads into cloth with colorful dyes on them. The first books were written so lots of people were writers. Most people were peasants, so they did a lot of farming and planting crops.(Ellis, Esler, 1997)

** Cities- Brooke Johnson **

The Chinese hartland lay along the east coast and the valleys of the Huang He and Yangzi. Mongolia and Manchuria were outlying regions. Peasant people lived around the outside of the walls of the city. Their houses were made of mud and beams. Wealthier people had homes made of stone or timber. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)


 * Public Works-K’Neesha Jackson **

In China, there weren’t many public works. Statues of Buddha appeared everywhere because of the religion, Buddhism. Churches were throughout the area. Water projects were demonstrated to control the rivers.(Ellis, Esler, 1997)

__** Works Cite **____** d: **__
 * Ellis and Esler, 1997, Prentice Hall: World History--Connections To Today
 * Mick Travels, unknown. []
 * Carr, Karen, 1998-2011 Ancient Chinese Houses. []
 * AncientSculptureGallery.com 2005-2007 []
 * Shutter Stock Images 2003-2011 []
 * Fine Art Registry 2003-2011 []
 * Unknown []
 * TM ® & © 2011-1996[]