Shang DynastyBy: Matthew Cheung

For Mr. Haskvitz

Shang Dynasty LocationShang Dynasty Location Located about the Located about the

Huang He RiverHuang He River Let the civilization Let the civilization

thrive on the riverthrive on the river Fishing, water, and Fishing, water, and

growing cropsgrowing crops

Shang CivilizationShang Civilization

1783-1134 B.C1783-1134 B.CAgriculture: Hunting and Animal Agriculture: Hunting and Animal HusbandryHusbandryDeveloped early writing systemDeveloped early writing systemBronze MetallurgyBronze Metallurgy

The Writing System

Developed in 1300 B.C.E More than three thousand characters Written on bones of cattle, deer,

seashells, turtle shells, and wood Written to predict future like oracles Has two parts to the word One part is meaning, and other part is

pronunciation

Turtle ShellsTurtle Shells The Shang people The Shang people

wrote on these turtle wrote on these turtle shells to predict the shells to predict the futurefuture

AgricultureAgricultureCivilization along the Yellow River had Civilization along the Yellow River had

canals for irrigating crops canals for irrigating crops Communities had drains that ran water out Communities had drains that ran water out

of town of town They extended their trading and used They extended their trading and used

money in the form of cowry shells money in the form of cowry shells Shang merchants traded in salt, iron, Shang merchants traded in salt, iron,

copper, tin, lead and antimonycopper, tin, lead and antimonyGrew wheat, barley, and milletGrew wheat, barley, and millet

Cowry ShellsCowry Shells The Shang people The Shang people

used these shells used these shells as moneyas money

To protect against To protect against evil, one carried it evil, one carried it as an amulet and as an amulet and put it into the put it into the grave of deceasedgrave of deceased

The Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age As early as the 1300 BCE a bronze As early as the 1300 BCE a bronze

casting industry had developedcasting industry had developed They made bronze spears, daggers, They made bronze spears, daggers,

and armorand armor This was later than the rise of bronze This was later than the rise of bronze

casting in Europe and West Asia, but it casting in Europe and West Asia, but it was the most advanced in the worldwas the most advanced in the world

Copper mixed with small amount of tinCopper mixed with small amount of tin

Bronze Items Art: Pottery

Weapons: Daggers

Self Assessment What did the Shang people use the writing

system for? What did the Shang people use as currency? How did the Huang He river affect the Shang

Dynasty? Name two things that the Shang people made

from bronze.

Answers

Predicting the future Cowry Shells Helped the civilization thrive with water,

fishing, and crop growing Pottery and Daggers

The EndThe End