Lacey.C

The wonderful world of the Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty was a period of time which started in 1600 to 1045Bc. Archaeologists found their information by using books written thousands of years ago. Most people who lived during The Shang Dynasty didn't have much money. This was an ancient civilisation set in China.

Family life

Have you ever wondered how life was in the past? Well then this is the place for you. Families live with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The oldest in the family is usually the head of the family. You had to respect them even if they were dead. When children get married, their parents would pick who they marry. It would often be some one who could protect them in war. Girls would get married young because their family can't afford to feed them. Most women would usually take care of their family however archaeologist say that some women were military leaders. Family was very important in The Shang Dynasty just like it is now.

Farming

Farming was incredibly important because most foods included crops. Most jobs on the farm were done by hand. Now you would think that if everything is done by hand then they would get a good amount of money. Well in reality, they hardly get any money. Farmers grew millet, wheat, barley but also kept silkworms, dogs, sheep and also oxen. Most people including children work at a farm only the rich nobles went to school. There was only really boys

Did you know?
farmers could have grown rice since there is a character for rice

Religion and art

Religion

All Shang people were rich or poor but no matter what they were they all had a religion. They believed in many gods as well as ancestors. Their main god was called Shangdi. If your ancestor was to die, you would have to respect them because people believed that if you didn't respect them you would have bad luck.

Art

Now we all know art, well at least most of us. Art it's were you use paint well even though we do use paint the Shang art wasn't like that. Shang people used bronze, pottery, jade and ivory to make beautiful sculptures. These pieces of art work were used at religious ceremony although most art work was given to the king. Some of the sculptors needed silk.

Did you know?
silk was made in the 27th century

Silk

You're probably thinking why is there a paragraph about silk. Well I'll tell you how beautiful silk is. Also because I want to tell you how it was invented. So it all began in the 27th century. While the yellow empress's wife was in her garden drinking some tea, she saw silkworms eating mulberry leaves. Suddenly, a cocoon fell into her tea. She took it out and a long thin silk thread came running out of the cocoon. The Empress started to collect the thread and make beautiful silk