2. Shang Dynasty LocationShang Dynasty Location
Located about theLocated about the
Huang He RiverHuang He River
Let the civilizationLet the civilization
thrive on the riverthrive on the river
Fishing, water, andFishing, water, and
growing cropsgrowing crops
3. Shang CivilizationShang Civilization
1783-1134 B.C1783-1134 B.C
Agriculture: Hunting and AnimalAgriculture: Hunting and Animal
HusbandryHusbandry
Developed early writing systemDeveloped early writing system
Bronze MetallurgyBronze Metallurgy
4. The Writing System
Developed in 1300 B.C.E
More than three thousand characters
Written on bones of cattle, deer,
seashells, turtle shells, and wood
Written to predict future like oracles
Has two parts to the word
One part is meaning, and other part is
pronunciation
5. Turtle ShellsTurtle Shells
The Shang peopleThe Shang people
wrote on these turtlewrote on these turtle
shells to predict theshells to predict the
futurefuture
6. AgricultureAgriculture
Civilization along the Yellow River hadCivilization along the Yellow River had
canals for irrigating cropscanals for irrigating crops
Communities had drains that ran water outCommunities had drains that ran water out
of townof town
They extended their trading and usedThey extended their trading and used
money in the form of cowry shellsmoney in the form of cowry shells
Shang merchants traded in salt, iron,Shang merchants traded in salt, iron,
copper, tin, lead and antimonycopper, tin, lead and antimony
Grew wheat, barley, and milletGrew wheat, barley, and millet
7. Cowry ShellsCowry Shells
The Shang peopleThe Shang people
used these shells asused these shells as
moneymoney
To protect againstTo protect against
evil, one carried it asevil, one carried it as
an amulet and put itan amulet and put it
into the grave ofinto the grave of
deceaseddeceased
8. The Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age
As early as the 1300 BCE a bronze castingAs early as the 1300 BCE a bronze casting
industry had developedindustry had developed
They made bronze spears, daggers, and armorThey made bronze spears, daggers, and armor
This was later than the rise of bronze casting inThis was later than the rise of bronze casting in
Europe and West Asia, but it was the mostEurope and West Asia, but it was the most
advanced in the worldadvanced in the world
Copper mixed with small amount of tinCopper mixed with small amount of tin
10. Self Assessment
What did the Shang people use the writing
system for?
What did the Shang people use as currency?
How did the Huang He river affect the Shang
Dynasty?
Name two things that the Shang people made
from bronze.
11. Answers
Predicting the future
Cowry Shells
Helped the civilization thrive with water,
fishing, and crop growing
Pottery and Daggers