Download Mr. Moore`s Chapter 20 Notes

Mr. Moore’s Chapter 20 Notes 20.1 Introduction ­China’s earliest dynasty was the Shang dynasty ­This dynasty ruled the area around the Huang He from 1700 to 1122 B.C.E. ­Ancient China was a number of clans, or extended families, led by warrior kings ­Occasionally,one clane became powerful to control all ancient China and started a dynasty ­The Shang is pronounced Shung. ­For hundreds of years, the shang dynasty was considered to be mythical by western scholars ­Stories about mysterious markings on animal bones hinted that in 1899 a chinese scholar figured out that the Shang might have been the first chinese to learn how to write ­In the 1920s the ruins of a Shang city were found were found at Anyang ­Archaeologists unearthed many artifacts from the Anyang ruins that revealed an ancient civilization 20.2 ­Nobles that lived in homes made of wood and earth near the kings palace. ­People of the lower classes lived in smaller earthen houses that were farther from the palace. ­Archeologists learned a lot about the Shang when began excavating the ruins at Anyang in 1928 ­The ruins were the remains of one of the royal cities of the Shang ­The city included a palace, a temple, and houses ­There were also workshops for artisans who worked with bronze, pottery, stone , and jade. ­the kings palace was set on a platform ­The palace was made of mud­plastered walls held up by wooden bones ­Under its foundations, archeologists found human bones The bones suggest that the Shang performed ​
human sacrifices​
when they built a new royal house ­Human sacrifices were also part of Shang burials While excavating act anyang archaeologists found at least 9 royal tombs. ­Each tomb was a large pit with ramps leading down to it from the north and south. ­When a king was buried slaves, servants, animals were lead down to the ramps into the pit. ­There they were sacrificed that, the Shang believed they could serve the needs of the king in the afterlife. ­Because of their belief in the afterlife, Shang kings were also buried with near bronze vessels and containers of food. ­ The treasures found in a royal tombs include bronze weapons, carved jade ornaments, bone carvings, pottery, stone sculptures, and even chariots. ­The artifacts unearthed at anyang reveal some interesting facts about shang beliefs and ways of life. 20.3 ●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
the shang government was led by a powerful king who controlled the land sometimes a son inherited the kingdom shang kings depended on strong armies to maintain their rule the kings engaged in almost constant war with their enemies they would capture prisoners for use as slaves and used them for human sacrifices the shang excelled in war, and the ruling classes built up great wealth. fighting so many wars eventually weakened the military power of shang shang wore out the economy with lavish spendings. shang arms were made up of large numbers of foot soldiers, archers, cavalry riding horses and elephants, and fighters in chorits clan: a large group of friends and family 20.4 Shang Social Classes Nobles ● Highest class after ranking family ● Fought in king’s army, also supplied weapons, foot soldiers, and chariots ● Lived in big palaces and hunted (which we know because of all the animal bones found at dig sites) ● Writings on oracle bones about the King hunting with nobels ● The king gave nobels symbols of power, like jade discs, which showed either a tiger or a dragon. Nobels mounted the discs on poles outside their homes Craftspeople ● craftspeople formed a small social class ● included bronze and jade workers, potters, and stonemasons ● bronze workers were especially valued ○ made the weapons used by Shang warriors ○ also made and decorated containers for the king and nobles Traders ● Scholars believe that the Shang traded extensively ● Modern Chinese word for merchant is shang ren which could also mean shang man ● Mostly traded goods but also used cowry shells, a type of sea shell as money, which were valuable because they came from far away Farmers ●
●
●
●
Largest shang social class Farmed on land owned by nobles Used stone and/or wooden tools Learned to keep and raise cattle Slaves ● Very bottom of social pyramid ● Spent lives building tombs and palaces ● When their masters died they were sometimes sacrificed to serve their masters in the afterlife ● Often captured during wars 20.5 ❖ The religion of the Shang centered on ancestor worship. ❖ The shang believed in life after death and that dead ancestors had power to hurt and harm the living. ❖ They believed it was important for people to honor, they did this through offerings of food, wine, and occasionally human sacrifice. ❖ Kings had the power to rule because they were descendants of powerful ancestors, Kings also had other responsibilities, one of them was following the wishes of their ancestors. ❖ Kings used oracle bones to ask their ancestors for advice on important matters, such as when to hunt, where to build cities, and whether to go to war. ❖ Oracle bones are made from turtle shells or the shoulder blade of a cow. ❖ A holy man made a statement such as “tomorrow is a good day for the hunt.” Then the holy man pressed a hot needle against the back of a turtle shell or bone. ❖ The hot needle would make the bone crack. The pattern of the crack was believed to be a message and the holy man translated. CHAP 20.6­20.7 ❖ The Shang also produced outstanding jade pieces. ❖ They made their pieces by sawing drilling and sanding stones. ❖ Early inscriptions were written on oracle bones are known as some of the earliest examples of written language. ❖ Having a written language helps unify chinese people. ❖ Some vessels have geometric designs and mythical creatures. ❖ Jade represents the qualities of a superior person. ❖ Good is a combination of “child” and “woman”. ❖ Having a written language helped China develop. ❖ The most common picture was a animal mask, known as a taotie. VOCAB ❖ Logograph: a written language that represents a word. 20.8 ❖ Bronze weapons were very important ❖ Craftspeople used bronze for weapons for war such as, arrowheads, axheads, spearheads, and helmets. ❖ Bronze tools were the reason Shang remained in power for more than 500 years. 20.9 The End of the Shang Dynasty ● shang excelled in war, and the ruling classes built up great wealth ● fighting so many wars eventually weakened the military power of shang ● the shang spent a lot of money on palaces, furnishes, clothes and even there own tomb. ● the shang wore down their economy with these lavish spending. ● corruption of the last king also lead to the fall of the shang dynasty. ● around 1045 b.c.e a frontier state called zhou rose up against the shang catching them by surprise they defeated and overthrew them. economy: a system, of managing the wealth of a country or region