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Shang Dynasty 1750-1050 BCE : 

Shang Dynasty 1750-1050 BCE Chinese civilization is one of oldest, continuous on earth 5,000 years of history

Outside China during Shang period : 

Outside China during Shang period Hammurabi’s code Mycenaean Civ. In Greece Vedic period in India Stonehenge Moses led Israelites out of Egypt Mayans processed rubber King Tut Homer’s Troy fell Ramesses III of Egypt

Neolithic settlements in Yangtze & Yellow river valleys : 

Neolithic settlements in Yangtze & Yellow river valleys Yangshao-painted pottery Longshan-black pottery

Shang Dynasty c.1750-1050 BCE : 

Shang Dynasty c.1750-1050 BCE Impressive bronze technology Oracle bones—beginning of writing system

Important elements from Shang : 

Important elements from Shang Notion of supreme heavenly power—Shangdi (god above) Belief in power of spirits or ancestors to affect events on earth Importance of rituals venerating ancestors & role of king in performing rituals

Shang was agricultural society : 

Shang was agricultural society Therefore rituals Therefore ancestor reverence Therefore bronzes & oracle bones

Shang culture characterized by: : 

Shang culture characterized by: Centralized government Urban communities Stratified social classes Palatial architecture Distinctive writing system Elaborate religious rituals Sophisticated art forms Bronze metallurgy Horse drawn chariot Ability to mobilize human labor for huge projects Relatively accurate calendar Money in form of cowrie shells Pantheon of gods Complex lineage structure

Shang musical instruments : 

Shang musical instruments Drums Bells Chiming stones ocarinas

“Auspicious Bronzes of the State” : 

“Auspicious Bronzes of the State” 9 ding representing 9 provinces King Yu of the Xia cast after bringing floods under control Dings passed to Shang & later to Zhou Possession was symbol of power & prestiege http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/index.htm http://www.smcm.edu/academics/aldiv/art/webcourses/arth100/monumentality/shang/shhome.html

Shang economic features : 

Shang economic features Tamed water buffalo Cultivated rice

Leaders addicted to: : 

Leaders addicted to: Warfare Hunting Wine Human & animal sacrifice

Leaders engaged in military expeditions : 

Leaders engaged in military expeditions Plunder & tribute part of royal economy New weapons part of passion for hunting Hunting good practice for warfare

Ancestor reverence : 

Ancestor reverence Ultimate source of political power was royal ancestors Deceased ministers had some influence Dead went to Heaven Intercede on behalf of descendants So ritual life of Shang court was sequence of sacrifices to ancestors

Divination : 

Divination Important actions required divination Tortoise shell or animal shoulder blade Questions about warfare, weather, life decisions http://www.chinavista.com/experience/oracle/oracle.html