What was it like to live in the Shang Dynasty?

There was a clear hierarchy in Shang society. This means people were organised into groups, and some people had more power than others.

Wealthy people, including the king and the nobles, had the most power. Most other people were not wealthy. They worked on farms and did not have the same power as the nobles.

Some people were skilled craftspeople and they worked with bronze and jade.

Important words on what it was like to live in the Shang Dynasty.

Watch the video to learn more about what life was like in the Shang dynasty.

The civilisation was based on agriculture, hunting and animals. Most people worked on farms but there were many other jobs including priests, soldiers, fishermen and more.

Many buildings were built from wood and mud.

The oldest surviving records from Anyang tell us that under the late Shang Dynasty writing was fully developed.

We know there were musicians who played different instruments. There were also astronomers who studied space, comets and the stars, and who observed some of the planets we can see today.

People did not eat rice or drink tea, but ate bread, wheat, cheese and drank beer.

At the Palace of Yinxu, near Anyang, there were many buildings around the palace complex, including storage rooms, servants’ quarters and housing.

The king was the military commander and chose the important officials who helped run the government as part of the royal court.

The king also led the religious ceremonies which included ancestor worship. They honoured their family members who had died.

Decorated tombs were built for the kings, who were buried with carriages, utensils and weapons for the afterlife. The Shang people believed there was another life after death.

Servants and horses, were also buried alive with them.

Craftspeople made cups, bowls and weapons from bronze.

This needed a lot of people to do the work, and managers to watch over the craftspeople.

Bronze items were used more for religious ceremonies than in everyday life.

Ordinary people used stone or wood to make their cups and bowls.

Have a look at the thinking point below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• How did life differ for the wealthy and poor?

Click through the interactive and sort the Shang Dynasty foods.

Let's find out what you know about life during the Shang Dynasty.

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