The Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty ruled from 1700 to 1122 B.C.E in an area in the

• Huang He valley

• Chang Jiang River.

• East China Sea

• Jade Oracle city

How would a Shang king extend his power?

• He would assign government officials to supervise his servants and slaves.

• He would set up smaller kingdoms led by his nephews and younger brothers.

• He would fight wars against his family members that had their own kingdoms.

• He would travel the continent with his army and make alliances with leaders.

Which group of artisans were especially valued in Shang society?

• artisans that made beautiful baskets

• artisans that were skilled in bronze

• artisans that cooked rare delicacies

• artisans that specialized in oracles

In their religion, the Shang believed that dead ancestors

• were not able to contact living people

• came back to life as different animals

• had the power to help or harm the living

• could only communicate through dreams

For hundreds of years, Western scholars believed that the Shang Dynasty was a legend because

• ancient Chinese texts portrayed it as a mythical place.

• archeologists did not have any solid evidence it existed.

• stories made it seem too advanced for it to be possible.

• people found texts that opposed the idea of its existence.

The Shang kings depended on their strong army to

• battle against their siblings for the throne.

• discipline the farmers, slaves, and servants.

• fight to defend and expand the kingdom

• be sacrificed in religious rituals and burials.

What did the Shang use for money?

• jade figurines

• cowrie shells

• bronze armor

• corn and millet

Which of the following is true of Shang writing?

• Its characters stood for words instead of sounds

• It used only pictographs rather than logographs.

• It does not have any similarities to modern Chinese.

• all of the above

What is significant about the Chinese city Anyang?

• It was where many Shang artifacts were found.

• It is the mythical city in ancient Chinese stories.

• It was the Shang dynasty's most rural area

• It was where the Shang peasants were confined.

Which of the following was true of the Shang's use of bronze?

• They were among the first civilizations to make bronze.

• Their use of bronze weapons was their biggest weakness.

• They were the only ancient civilization that used bronze.

• They made a lot of money because of their bronze goods.