How do empires collapse?

In this lesson we will take a quick look at some of the largest empires throughout history. We'll see that empires have risen and fallen since the first civilisations, and try and spot any common reasons for their downfalls. Then, we'll apply this learning to the collapse of the Shang Dynasty.

How do empires collapse?

In this lesson we will take a quick look at some of the largest empires throughout history. We'll see that empires have risen and fallen since the first civilisations, and try and spot any common reasons for their downfalls. Then, we'll apply this learning to the collapse of the Shang Dynasty.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Features of empire, including centralised rule

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5 Questions

Q1.
What was the name of the last Emperor of the Shang Dynasty?
Daji
Wen
Wu Ding
Correct answer: Zhou
Q2.
What was the name of the archaeologist who discovered Fu Hao's tomb?
Cheng Tang
Shang Di
Wu Ding
Correct answer: Zheng Zhenxiang
Q3.
Emperor Tang was popular because he: (Tick ALL that apply):
Changed the religion of the Shang people.
Discovered how to make iron.
Correct answer: Gave poor families a gold coin.
Correct answer: Lowered taxes.
Correct answer: Offered to sacrifice himself for his people.
Q4.
What was the currency used by people during the Shang Dynasty
Bronze bars
Correct answer: Cowrie shells
Gold coins
Meat
Q5.
What was the name of the Dynasty that replaced the Shang Dynasty?
Han
Song
Xia
Correct answer: Zhou

5 Questions

Q1.
Who was the first emperor of the Shang?
Correct answer: Cheng Tang
Fu Hao
King Zhou
Q2.
Which empire first made Baghdad its capital?
Correct answer: Abbasid Empire
British Empire
Mongol Empire
Portuguese Empire
Q3.
Which empire first colonised countries around the world, including Brazil?
British Empire
Mongol Empire
Correct answer: Portuguese
Spanish Empire
Q4.
King Zhou was considered a cruel and evil leader, who made bad decisions. Is this best described as a
economic factor
military factor
Correct answer: political factor
Q5.
Empires usually collapse quickly and because of a single factor.
Correct answer: False
True

Lesson appears in

UnitHistory / The Shang Dynasty

History