Cities
The Shang located their cities near sources of water, especially the Huang He River. They were thought to be located where the middle and lower courses of the river in northern China during ancient times. The river provided water to sustain the cities and the banks provided fertile soil for agriculture.
The center of the cities contained large buildings, sacrificial alters, storehouses, and other important buildings. The buildings have pounded-earth foundations. They are then set into large stone or bronze castings to support wooden pillars. Outside the cities, boundaries of the empire weren't clearly defined. There were often wars in the outlying areas for control of the territory. Walls were build around cities to help protect its inhabitants from foreign invaders. However, it was very roomy within the walls and there was enough room to cultivate land. Peasants probably lived outside the walled perimeter. Near and around the cities, there were factories of bronze, bone, horn and ceramics. Some of these factories may have been located within the city walls.
Funeral rites were extremely important in Shang society, so elaborate tombs were build for those in the higher levels of the social pyramid.
The center of the cities contained large buildings, sacrificial alters, storehouses, and other important buildings. The buildings have pounded-earth foundations. They are then set into large stone or bronze castings to support wooden pillars. Outside the cities, boundaries of the empire weren't clearly defined. There were often wars in the outlying areas for control of the territory. Walls were build around cities to help protect its inhabitants from foreign invaders. However, it was very roomy within the walls and there was enough room to cultivate land. Peasants probably lived outside the walled perimeter. Near and around the cities, there were factories of bronze, bone, horn and ceramics. Some of these factories may have been located within the city walls.
Funeral rites were extremely important in Shang society, so elaborate tombs were build for those in the higher levels of the social pyramid.