New
New
Year 3

What archaeologists have found out about the Shang

I can explain some of the things archaeologists have found out about the Shang from the artefacts they have studied.

New
New
Year 3

What archaeologists have found out about the Shang

I can explain some of the things archaeologists have found out about the Shang from the artefacts they have studied.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Shang were accomplished in using jade and bronze to create art, weapons and other objects.
  2. Fu Hao's tomb has shown archaeologists that women could rise to positions of power.
  3. Shang bronze dings and oracle bones show how they worshipped their ancestors.
  4. Archaeologists also know lots about the Shang because of all the writing found on oracle bones.
  5. A good explanation of the things archaelogists have found out about the Shang will use knowledge from across this unit.

Common misconception

Women could not hold positions of power in the Shang Dynasty.

The tomb of Fu Hao tells us that she was a powerful queen and one of the most successful and important army generals of her time.

Keywords

  • oracle bones - oracle bones were pieces of ox bone or turtle shell that were used by the Shang Dynasty to try to predict the future

  • Ancestor - an ancestor is a person who was in someone's family in past times

  • Taotie - the taotie is a mythical animal-like creature that is often used as decoration on items

Use this lesson to activate knowledge gained in this unit. Ask the questions on each slide to the class and try to take lots of ideas before revealing the rest of the information on screen.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
The people of the Shang Dynasty lived around...
the River Nile
Correct answer: the Yellow River
the Euphrates River
Q2.
They wrote questions and answers on oracle...
Correct Answer: bones
Q3.
Put the following into the correct order.
1 - The Shang Dynasty began.
2 - Diviners wrote on oracle bones.
3 - The Shang Dynasty ended.
4 - A Chinese historian bought some ‘dragon bones’ for an illness.
5 - Archaeologists began to dig at the ancient Shang Dynasty capital city.
Q4.
The job of the was to use oracle bones to find out the future.
Correct Answer: diviner
Q5.
Oracle bones were used to ask questions to the __________ of the Shang Dynasty.
friends
kings and queens
Correct answer: ancestors and gods
Q6.
Historians have learned a lot about the Shang Dynasty from oracle bones.
Correct answer: True
False

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:oracle bone,ox bone or turtle shell used to predict the future

ox bone or turtle shell used to predict the future

Correct Answer:taotie, a mythical animal-like creature that is often used as decoration

a mythical animal-like creature that is often used as decoration

Correct Answer:ancestor, a person who was in someone's family in past times

a person who was in someone's family in past times

Q2.
The Shang Dynasty started in China in...
6000 BCE
Correct answer: 1600 BCE
50 BCE
Q3.
The Shang Dynasty started in the River Valley.
Correct Answer: Yellow, yellow
Q4.
Select the items that show the ancestors were important to the Shang Dynasty.
Correct answer: bronze dings
weapons
shells
Correct answer: oracle bones
Q5.
The Shang used picture symbols for writing.
Correct answer: True
False
Q6.
Fu Hao's tomb has shown archaeologists that...
women were not powerful.
women were not allowed to lead armies.
Correct answer: women could lead armies and be as powerful as men.