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Rulers, priests, and all those that were superior were considered nobles. They lived within walled cities while farmers and craftsmen, known as peasants, had to live outside. The majority of Shang people were actually peasant farmers.
The nobles could receive a clan membership and protection against corporal punishment. Being part of a clan membership meant that they were able to have a religious view. The memberships were linked together in different groups, much like there are groups that have memberships to a certain church. It was believed by the Chinese that the king and his family were related to the highest god.
The peasants were slaves because landowners owned everything in their land, including people. Peasants worked in fields, were forced into the military, and often sold or traded.
The nobles could receive a clan membership and protection against corporal punishment. Being part of a clan membership meant that they were able to have a religious view. The memberships were linked together in different groups, much like there are groups that have memberships to a certain church. It was believed by the Chinese that the king and his family were related to the highest god.
The peasants were slaves because landowners owned everything in their land, including people. Peasants worked in fields, were forced into the military, and often sold or traded.
The Shang society pyramid started with the king at the top, then the nobles, and of course, the farmers. Burials also distinguished where each class belonged. The highest classes were buried in fancy pit tombs with objects that had meaning to them for the afterlife, while the lowest classes were just thrown down a well.
Here's a video with more in depth information about death in the Shang Dynasty.
Here's a video with more in depth information about death in the Shang Dynasty.
How did they live day to day?
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The people of Shang were very skilled when working with bones, bronze, woods, and ceramics. They were regularly farmers, but they were no strangers to hunting. Since flooding was an issue, they came up with complex forms of irrigation. Wheat, rice, and barley were the most common crops grown, and they domesticated anything from oxen to even silkworms! (Click button now)
Family and respecting parents was crucial to Chinese society, and men and women had their own roles that they were responsible for. The men got to make the important decisions and be in control of the family's property, while the women were expected to obey all the men, including their own sons. Their future marriage was already arranged when they were between the ages of 13 - 16.