Ancient China

Shang DynastyThe Shang started around 1700 B.C.E. They settled along the Huang He River. For hundreds of years, this dynasty was considered a legend. Until archaeologists had heard of animal bones with the first Chinese writing system. They were called oracle bones. Later on, archaeologists had found the ruins of Shang City, at Anyang. By 1928, people had discovered about Shang Culture. They city of Shang included, a palace, a temple, workshops, and many houses. The people of Shang worshipped their ancestors. When they used an oracle bone they took a hot rod and cracked the bone. They thought it was their ancestors communicating to them.

Ancient China by Gabby Finkelstein

Shang pictures

Shang Dynasty continued...Shang writing was discovered on oracle bones. They had written on them with the first chinese written language. Oracle bones were the first example of chinese language. They used pictographs to show an object. Shang artisans made beautiful works of art with bronze. They also made very remarkable jade pieces. They beleived jade represented the quality of a superior person. Artisans created bronze tools for war. They included arrowheads, spearheads, ax heads, and helmets. Soon the Shang dynasty came to an end like all dynasties do. Their excellents in war made their dynasty last for over five hundred years. Around 1045 B.C.E. Zhou conquered the Shang.

Zhou Dynasty1045 B.C.E. the Zhou conquered the Shang Dynasty. After overthrowing the Shang, they established their own dynasty. To justify their conquest they claimed that they had been given the Mandate of Heaven. The Mandate of Heaven is the divine right to rule China. As long as the king ruled his people with good power heaven would continue to let him rule. But when a flood happened or a natural diaster, his people would think the king made it happen so he was overthrown and a new king would recieve the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou continued to maintain political stabability of China. By 700 B.C.E. their system was breaking down. Between 770 and 453 B.C.E. a number of small states often fought against eachother. This is just a little bit about the Zhou Dynasty.