WorksheetsThe Shang Dynasty
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
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 Sea
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.
What is significant about the Chinese city Anyang? Text to speech
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.
What did the Shang do to ensure their kings were served in the afterlife?
They buried animals, servants, and slaves in the tombs.
They made each farmer perform an oracle bone ritual.
The nobles had to give up their land for the dead kings.
They charged farmers a tax to donate to the dead kings.
Which of the following was part of the Shang Dynasty?
a palace
a temple
houses
all of the above
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 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.
What Shang group was the highest-ranking, after the king and his relatives?
bronze artisans
merchants
farmers
nobles
What did the Shang king do for nobles in exchange for their military help?
He ensured they were always provided with a farm to crop.
He allowed them to not pay taxes on a majority of their land.
He was not likely to interfere with their control over the land.
He let them and their families live with him in his palace.
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
What did the Shang use for money?
jade figurines
cowrie shells
bronze armor
corn and millet
What group made up the largest social class in Shang society?
nobles
artisans
farmers
servants
Which of the following is true of Shang farmers?
Shang farmers' land was controlled by the king or the nobles
Shang farmers had to give most of their harvest to the nobles.
Shang farmers used very simple tools made of wood and stone.
All of the above.
In Shang society, slaves spent their lives
building tombs and palaces.
helping farmers harvest crops.
welding weapons and armor.
making pottery and jewelry.
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.
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
Shang artists often made remarkable pieces using both
quartz and ruby.
straw and grass.
paper and glass.
jade and bronze.
What is one reason the Shang were able to stay in power for over five hundred years?
The rulers often had no relatives.
They had very good bronze-making skills.
They were smart about spending money.
The farmers helped sustain all citizens.
Which of the following is a possible reason the Shang dynasty ended?
Their constant warfare severely weakened their military strength.
Shang rulers spent money lavishly, which weakened their economy.
A Zhou army attacked the Shang, defeating and overthrowing them.
All of the above.
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.
