Shang Society- invented a writing system, worked with bronze, had social classes, and lived under monarchy rule
Shang Dynasty - most people lived in farming villages, farmers grew grain, kept chickens and pigs, and raised silkworms for silk cloth. Metal workers made many bronze tools and weapons as well as beautiful containers that were used in ceremonies to honor ancestors
Shang Army-used new technology,used war chariots and bronze-tipped spears,helped the Shang conquer the villages of the Huang He River valley
Few Shang buildings remain but most artifacts still exist
Characters-symbols
Shang Writing System-very similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs
oracle bones-turtle shells and animal bones used to find out about the future
diviner- person believed to help Shang kings speak to gods and ancestors
Zhou Dynasty- China's longest ruling dynasty, lasted for 866 years from 1122 BC to 256 BC , dynasties became powerful after the Zhou dynasty, worshiped Tian or Heaven, conquered Shang
King Wu- Zhou leader ,helped the Zhou conquer the Shang, Tian allowed Wu to conquer the Shang Kingdom because Shang kings were mean
Mandate of Heaven- order from Tian to rule over China
Wei River Valley - believed to be the birthplace of the Zhou culture, west of the Shang kingdom
virtue- good quality
Three Class System-
- King and Family
- Noble Families
- Peasant Families
feudalism-political system of exchanging land for loyalty
Nobles get land from King. Nobles give King military support.
Zhou weakened by 800 BC
In the last 200 yrs of the dynasty fighting got worse
Heavy fighting period called the Warring Kingdoms Period
Zhou introduced cavalry,money,plows,and iron
King of Zheng made first written laws in China
Confucius-also called Kong Fuzi or Great Master Kong,great teacher and thinker,lived during the Zhou dynasty,concerned by problems,fighting,and heritage,goal was to have people live and work together
filial piety-children treat parents with honor and respect
Confucianism- ideas of Confucius; his ideas were ignored for the most part of his life until his death. That's when his ideas spread across eastern Asia
Taoism or Daoism- belived in nonviolence and people should follow the laws of the universe
