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

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

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

What archaeologists have found out about the Shang

History

In ‘The earliest civilisations: the Indus and the Shang’ pupils were encouraged to develop their understanding of the concept of civilisation. In ‘Iron Age Britain: what have historians learnt about Iron Age Britain?’ pupils are now invited to contrast their strong understanding of early civilisations with Iron Age Britain.

In ‘Sumer and other early civilisations: what made them similar?’ pupils encountered multiple early civilisations in overview in order to strengthen the concept of civilisation and to make connections between these. In ‘The earliest civilisations: the Indus and the Shang’ they are encouraged to develop their understanding of this concept even further. 

These units analyse the way in which archaeologists have found out about the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Shang dynasty. Whichever unit is chosen, pupils examine the archaeological record of an early civilisation and develop their knowledge of what claims are based on these remains.

The earliest civilisations: the Indus and the Shang

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

ox bone or turtle shell used to predict the future

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

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

Match the keyword to the correct definition.

The Shang Dynasty started in the {{ }} River Valley.

Select the items that show the ancestors were important to the Shang Dynasty.

The Shang used picture symbols for writing.

women could lead armies and be as powerful as men.

Fu Hao's tomb has shown archaeologists that...

The people of the Shang Dynasty lived around...

They wrote questions and answers on oracle... 

A Chinese historian bought some ‘dragon bones’ for an illness.

Archaeologists began to dig at the ancient Shang Dynasty capital city.

Put the following into the correct order.

The job of the {{ }} was to use oracle bones to find out the future.

Oracle bones were used to ask questions to the __________ of the Shang Dynasty. 

Historians have learned a lot about the Shang Dynasty from oracle bones.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

Starter Quiz