THE SHANG DYNASTY
Recorded Chinese history begins with the ancient Shang dynasty. Today, people are still arguing about when this dynasty began, with some scholars saying it started in the mid-18th B.C.E, and others saying it began in the mid-16th B.C.E. During this era, one event more than any other signaled the arrival of the Shang Dynasty: the Bronze Age.
The Shang dynasty saw many advancements in what is bronze working, as it was very common at the time. Tons of artifacts from the ruins of Yin were discovered in the late 1920s and early ‘30s, like, for instance, bronze vessels for drinking during ceremonies, bronze chariots and axes that were used in battle, and many other objects. Since bronze was mainly associated with royalty, the tombs of important Shang kings contained many small bronze objects, including hairpins.
The Shang dynasty saw many advancements in what is bronze working, as it was very common at the time. Tons of artifacts from the ruins of Yin were discovered in the late 1920s and early ‘30s, like, for instance, bronze vessels for drinking during ceremonies, bronze chariots and axes that were used in battle, and many other objects. Since bronze was mainly associated with royalty, the tombs of important Shang kings contained many small bronze objects, including hairpins.
SOCIETY & CULTURE
Now that we know the Shang dynasty a little better, let’s talk about the Shang society and culture.
From what has been discovered, archeologists and historians have learned a lot about the Shang culture. These were skilled workers in bone, jade, ceramics, stone, wood, shells and, of course, bronze. The people of the Shang dynasty lived off of the land and, as time went by, settled permanently on farms instead of meandering as nomads. Like many other ancient dynasties, the Shang assembled a social pyramid, with the king at the top, followed by the military nobility, the artisans and craftsmen, and, at the very bottom, the peasants. |
Aristocracy & The Military
The aristocracy were the nobility, or the hereditary ruling class. They were centered in Anyang, the capital of the Shang, and performed governmental affairs for the neighboring areas. Regional lands farther away from Anyang were as well controlled by the wealthy.
After the aristocracy were the military, which were respected and honored for their skills. The military was divided into two subdivisions: the infantry, which were foot soldiers, and the chariot warriors. Archaeological evidence suggests that the military used horses and other cavalry to fight their enemies. |
Artisans and Craftsmen
Artisans and craftsmen made the middle class of Shang society. Their most important contribution was their work with bronze, which they developed around 1500 BCE. Their work with bronze was a very relevant aspect of the Shang society. They created bronze weapons and pottery, but the most notable inventions included ritual vessels and treasures, many which were discovered through archaeological findings in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Peasants
The peasants compromised the bottom of the social pyramid, which were the poorest of Chinese citizens. The majority of the population were peasants and these were limited to farming and sold crops to support themselves. Archaeological finding have shown that tons of peasant were buried with aristocrats, leading many people to believe that they were the equivalent of slaves. Peasants were ruled directly by local aristocrats,
Burials
Burials were one of many ways in which the social classes were distinguished. The elite were buried in pit tombs with many objects of wealth, since they thought that these could be used in the afterlife. Sometimes, the people who assembled these tombs were buried alive with the dead royalty. The middle-class people were buried in pits of varying size based on status, while the lowest classes were sometimes tossed down wells.
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