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What was it like to live in the Shang dynasty?

Part of HistoryShang DynastyYear 5Year 6

Watch: Life in the Shang dynasty

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What was life like for ordinary people?

Man building a house.

  • The civilisation was based on agriculture, hunting and animals. Buildings were built from mud.

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

  • We also know there were musical instruments and astronomers observed the planet Mars and comets.

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

Man building a house.
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What happened at the royal court?

King sitting on a platform with a cup and spear. There are two soldiers either side of him.

  • At the palace of Yinxu, near Anyang, there were as many as 53 buildings around the palace complex, as well as storage, servants’ quarters and housing.

  • The king was the military commander and was in charge of the court appointments.

  • The king also led the religious ceremonies which included ancestor worship.

  • Decorated tombs were built for the kings, who were buried with carriages, utensils and weapons for the afterlife. Servants and horses, were also buried alive with them.

King sitting on a platform with a cup and spear. There are two soldiers either side of him.
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Why was bronze important?

Shang era bronze maker

  • Craftspeople made cups, bowls and weapons from bronze. This needed a lot of people to do the work, and managers to watch over the craftsmen.

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

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

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Activities

Activity 1: Sort the Shang Dynasty foods

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Activity 2: Shang dynasty quiz

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Play Horrible Histories: Raid and Trade KS2 History

Horrible Histories: Raid and Trade
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