Introduction

China has a long history stretching back more than 4,000 years. Before the rise of cities, groups of small villages sprang up. These communities were based around farming. The earliest were founded along the Yellow River. The river provided fresh water for drinking, transportation, and growing crops. The Yellow River runs through the north of China.

Much of this area was controlled by dynasties. A dynasty is a group of rulers who all belong to one family. They pass their right to rule down through their family line. Dynasties can last for hundreds of years.

Shang dynasty

The Shang were China’s first dynasty. They ruled from 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE. Archeologists dig up historic artifacts. Many artifacts have been found from the Shang dynasty. This includes Chinese texts from fifth to first centuries BCE.¹

Shang society was divided into different classes of people. Kings and the rich were at the top. Under them came the soldiers and government workers. Next came craftspeople. The lowest level was made up of peasants. Most peasants were farmers. Others were servants.

Some servants may have been slaves. At times, servants were buried with the rich. They were killed when their master died. That way they could serve their master in the afterlife.

Writing and spiritual beliefs

The Chinese believed that the gods had given their kings the right to rule. Kings made laws and commanded the army. They also communicated with spirits. These spirit beings provided answers to many kinds of questions.

The Chinese of the Shang period were animists. They believed that things, animals, and places have spirits. They also believed deeply in honoring their ancestors. When someone in a family died, they became a part of the spirit world. The living often called upon their ancestors for help.

People communicated with their ancestors through oracle bones. First, they would meet with a diviner. A diviner was someone who could communicate with spirits. A person’s question was written on a bone by the diviner. The bone was then heated until it cracked. The diviner would read the cracks, and tell the questioner what they meant. The cracks were thought to contain an answer from the ancestor.

Thousands of oracle bones survive. They tell us a great deal about early Chinese culture. The questions, the people who asked the questions, and the answers are recorded on the bones.

Cities, trade, and culture

The Shang kings founded many cities. Some were walled to protect against invaders. The city of Erligang had walls that were about 32 feet high. They were 65 feet thick.

The Shang period is also known for bronze-making. Bronze was used to make weapons, farm tools, and many other things. Stone, bone, and jade were also widely used.

The Chinese believed deeply in an afterlife. Because of this, tools, weapons, and many other things were placed in tombs. They were meant to help those who had crossed over to the spirit world. These artifacts also help historians learn about trade in the Shang dynasty. Cowry shells indicate trade with coastal regions. Chariots indicate interactions with people from the steppe, who were knowledgeable about horses and chariots. It is also likely that other communities wanted to trade with the Shang for their bronze and silk.

A major Shang tomb was uncovered in 1976. It was found in the city of Anyang. The tomb was the final resting place of Lady Fu Hao at around 1250 BCE. Fu Hao was one of the many wives of King Wu Ding. She also served as an army general. Few women in China had so much power.

Lady Fu Hao was buried with 16 servants and six dogs. There were also thousands of objects in her tomb. The items included about 130 weapons.

From the Shang to the Zhou dynasty

The Shang dynasty ruled for more than 500 years. In 1046 BCE, it fell to the Zhou. The Zhou were another powerful family group. King Wu of the Zhou said the Shang king was no longer worthy to govern. Wu said the king lost the Mandate of Heaven. This belief gave kings the right to rule. But Wu said the Shang king did not care about his people. This meant the Shang king lost his right to power.

The Zhou became the longest-ruling dynasty in Chinese history. It ruled for almost 800 years.

1 Historical sources include The Book of Documents and The Records of the Grand Historian. Archaeologists have made discoveries at many locations. Sometimes, artifacts are damaged. The Tomb of Lady Fu Hao was found at Anyang. It was the most complete tomb found.