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DATES: 1700-1027 BCE

Advancements and Achievements:

- developed a refined writing system that had over 2000 symbols
- made jewellery and decorations from jade
- invented the yoke, harness, and spoked wheel
- began to use horse-drawn chariots
- created a 12 month calendar with 365 and 1/4 days, based on the moon's cycles
- made bronze weapons
- made bronze ritual vessels with a high level of artistry and skill
- mass production of bronze items
- the first dynasty to unite a large part of China under one king
- developed the decimal system
- made fine woven silk

How the dynasty came to power: Once the Xia dynasty was overthrown due to their tyrannical form of leadership, the people known as the Shang came to rule the area from about 1500 to 1050 B.C.

How the dynasty lost power: In 1050 B.C. the Zhou, western neighbours of the Shang, rose against the Shang and defeated them in battle.

The Artefact: The Oracle Bones

Link: to image http://www.sacu.org/picshow.php?picid=1217

What kind of source is it?

The source included is primary artefact from the Shang Dynasty.

Who created it?

It was created by the Shang out of shoulder bones of oxen and sheep or the outer shells of turtles.

What is its purpose?

The purpose of the Oracle Bones was ask the spirits of dead ancestors important questions. The questions would be inscribed into the bone plates and then burnt. The cracks that emerged from the heat were interpreted by the diviner.

How useful is the source in understanding the past?

This source is somewhat useful in understanding the past as it highlights the cultural values of the Shang and the importance the society placed on the spirits and superstition.

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Date: 1027 - 476 BCE

Key Achievements:

- Established an equitable way to distribute land amongst peasants.

- Developed cultural and political characteristics that were to be recognised in China for the next 2000 years.

- Cultural production, population, wealth, trade increased

- Expansion through use of communication

Power

- 770BCE Zhou kings lost control of territories, had to move further east

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Qin: The State of Qin was in the far west.

The Three Jins: Northeast of Qin, on the Shanxi plateau, were the three successor states of Jin. These were: Han, Wei and Zhao.

Qi: located in the east of China

Chu: located in the south of China, with its core territory around the valleys of the Han River and, later, the Yangtze River.

Yan: located in the northeast, centred on modern-day Beijing.

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First emperor was Qin Shi Huangdi

Came to power after 800 years of wars and battles.

Key achievements:

- standarised weights and measures (eg: use bronze and terra-cotta cups to measure liquids and grains)

- introduced a standard system of money

- began the Great Wall of China.

- built road

- Burned books and buried scholars of previous dynasties

- The Government required the standardisation of written characters, which gave the government and its people one way to write and read.

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Significant People

Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang): First Han emperor and the first Chinese emperor who rose to power from a commoner background.

Lu Zhi (Lu Hou): Empress of Gaozu who upon his death tried to confiscate the Han empire for her own family through murders and replacing her own people in positions of power.

Sima Qian: Scholar and father of Chinese historiography.

Emperor Wu di:

Rise and fall of the Han dynasty:

The Han dynasty came to power after a brief joint rule. The first emperor of the Han dynasty, Liu-Bang, took control after he defeated his rival. By the end of a 400-year rule, the peasants and members of society were fed up with the way that the then emperor was doing things. The emperor's rivals eventually assassinated him and people were happier.

Gilded Bronze Leopards - Princess Dou Wan’s Tomb

Creator : Unknown Bronze Worker

Purpose: used as weights. also used to symbolise military valour.

How useful: moderate - shows that they had some understanding of an afterlife but doesn’t offer much information

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Cao Wei (220–265)

Jin Dynasty (265–420)

Liu Song Dynasty (420–479)

Qi Dynasty (479–502)

Liang Dynasty (502–557)

Chen Dynasty (557–589)