Year 3

What did the Shang people believe?

In this lesson, we will learn all about the belief systems of the Shang, including how they worshipped their ancestors. We'll learn about the supreme god Shangdi, and how the priests used Oracle bones to try and speak to the spirits of their ancestors.

Year 3

What did the Shang people believe?

In this lesson, we will learn all about the belief systems of the Shang, including how they worshipped their ancestors. We'll learn about the supreme god Shangdi, and how the priests used Oracle bones to try and speak to the spirits of their ancestors.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The religions of the Shang people.
  2. The importance of ancestors to the Shang people.
  3. What the 'Mandate of Heaven' is.

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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5 Questions

Q1.
People in the Shang Dynasty thought that when the stars and planets lined up, it was a Mandate of Heaven, which meant:
A drought was coming
A great battle would happen
Correct answer: A new emperor was needed
Rains were coming
Q2.
In what year did the Shang Dynasty end?
Correct answer: 1066 BCE
1066 CE
1600 BCE
1600 CE
Q3.
What was the name of the river that the Shang civilisation was situated on?
The Brown River
The Orange River
The Red River
Correct answer: The Yellow River
Q4.
What was used as money during the Shang Dynasty?
bronze
Correct answer: cowrie shells
jade
oracle bones
Q5.
Which social class would a priest belong to?
Correct answer: Noble class
Working Class

5 Questions

Q1.
Which two metals combine to make bronze?
Correct answer: copper
iron
jade
Correct answer: tin
Q2.
What did the Chinese do with oracle bones, before they discovered that they had ancient writing on them?
Correct answer: Ground them up and used them as medicine
Put them in museums
Studied them in universities
Threw them away
Q3.
"People in the Shang Dynasty never fought in battles or wars."
Correct answer: False
True
Q4.
Which of these social groups had the most land, power and money?
Correct answer: Noble class
Working class
Q5.
We have evidence that the Shang cooked in what?
A BBQ
Correct answer: A cauldron
A frying pan
A roasting tin