The era of the Shang and the Zhou dynasties is generally known as the Bronze Age of China, because bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, used to fashion weapons, parts of chariots, and ritual vessels , played an important role in the material culture of the time.
What is bronze and why was it important to the Shang?
Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was a hugely important metal during the Shang period. Shang metal workers developed a highly sophisticated method for casting bronze and used it to make ceremonial objects and weapons .
What did the Shang Dynasty make out of bronze?
In that time, Shang and Chou craftsmen learned to use bronze for more than weapons. They made tools out of bronze . This helped farmers and craftsmen and miners produce more food, goods, and minerals. They made bowls, bells, drums, cups, axes, and many other things out of bronze.
What bronze weapons did the Shang Dynasty use?
Bronze and stones weapons were an integral part of Shang society, and Shang infantry were armed with máo (矛) spears, yuè (鉞) pole-axes, gē (戈) pole-based dagger-axes, composite bows, and bronze or leather helmets .
Why did the Shang Dynasty make bronze weapons?
The Shang government used bronze for military weapons, such as swords and spearheads. These weapons gave them a distinct advantage over their enemies .
Who defeated the Shang dynasty?
The Battle of Muye or Battle of Mu ( c. 1046 BC) was a battle fought in ancient China between the rebel Zhou state and the reigning Shang dynasty. The Zhou army , led by Ji Fa, defeated the defending army of King Zhou of Shang at Muye and captured the Shang capital Yin, ending the Shang dynasty.
How did China get bronze?
The earliest Chinese bronzes were made by the method known as piece-mold casting —as opposed to the lost-wax method, which was used in all other Bronze Age cultures. ... The mold is then cut in sections to release the model, and the sections are reassembled after firing to form the mold for casting.
Why was bronze important?
Bronze is a historically significant metal to the development of human civilization . The low melting point of the tin and copper used to create bronze alloys allowed it to be worked on before iron was a feasible option. The hardness of bronze is also higher than wrought iron allowing better tools to be made.
How did the use of bronze give Shang Warriors an advantage over enemies who did not use bronze 4 points?
How did the use of bronze give Shang warriors an advantage over enemies who did not use bronze? Bronze armor offered greater protection than leather in battle . Bronze containers could hold more arrows than cloth ones. The process of bronze making allowed weapons to be produced faster.
Why was the Shang Dynasty so successful?
The Shang ruled from 1600 to 1046 B.C. and heralded the Bronze Age in China. They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology .
Who invented bronze?
Around 3500 BC the first signs of bronze usage by the ancient Sumerians started to appear in the Tigris Euphrates valley in Western Asia. One theory suggests that bronze may have been discovered when copper and tin-rich rocks were used to build campfire rings.
What religion was the Shang Dynasty?
Folk religion during the Shang dynasty was polytheistic , meaning the people worshipped many gods. This bronze sculpture of a human head with gold leaf is typical of the bronze artwork created during the Shang dynasty. Ancestor worship was also very important to the Shang.
Why did the Shang Dynasty fall?
The End of the Shang
The Zhou conquerors claimed to overthrow the Shang Dynasty for moral reasons. They said that the Shang king was evil and that heaven no longer wanted him to rule. They blamed the Shang’s downfall on its king’s excessive drinking, indulgent lifestyle, and immoral behavior.
How did bronze improve peoples lives?
The Bronze Age made life better for everyone. ... Bronze started the science of working with metal . This gave people the idea to find better materials, such as iron, to use with their tools as the materials advanced so did the world because it made life easier for them. Bronze is the metal that started it all.
Why did Shang kings use Oracle Bones?
The Shang people used oracle bones to communicate with ancestors and deities , who were believed to have the power to bestow fortune, disasters and guidance on the living world. At the royal court, the oracle bones divination was carried out by trusted ‘diviners’ or by the king and other members of the royal family.
Which dynasty was the longest ruled over China?
The Zhou dynasty was the longest of ancient China’s dynasties. It lasted from 1046 to 256 B.C.E. Some of ancient China’s most important writers and philosophers lived during this period, including Confucius and the first Taoist thinkers. The years from 476 to 221 B.C.E.
