Job Specialization
In Neolithic times improved farming methods (due to the invention of irrigation) led to a surplus of food which led to the development of specialized jobs. This continued into the Shang Dynasty when citizens were divided into three classes; slaves, commoners, and nobles, with commoners doing most of the specialized jobs.
- Farming: The majority of the commoners were still farmers, as were their Neolithic ancestors. When these farmers were not farming, they worked to build and repair the dikes. The commoners would give a lot of what they made or grew to their king in the form of taxes, trading most of what they had left for food and other things that were not their specialties.
- Jewelers
- Merchants: Merchants organized trade; they would trade salt, cowrie shells, and other goods with artisans for food and salt. Artisans made goods for the nobles, things such as bronze weapons, silk robes, and jade jewelry.
- Jade workers : carved jade and ivory
- Priests: sought to gain favor of gods through ceremonies, prayers, rituals, etc. The priests kept records of the government and were also in charge of religion. They worshipped their ancestors and also believed in many gods. Shang Ti was the main god and ruled over heaven and the other gods. The Shang people believed their gods were very powerful and could cause droughts, floods, and locust plagues.
- Manufacturers of silk textiles/embroiders: Silkworms were fed mulberry leaves, they molt and spun cocoons, then workers boil the cocoons to produce the raw silk. (Mastered many different weaves).
- soldiers: defended city
- sculptors/potters: created first type of porcelain
- Bronze-smiths/metalworkers:The Shang Dynasty existed during China’s bronze age. At that time, bronze represented power, wealth, and luxury. By looking at the way bronze was used by the Shang, it is clear that only those with any degree of power in the kingdom had access to using bronze objects. Shang bronzes fall into two categories: weapons or ceremonial vessels for food and wine. By far, most of the pieces are ceremonial vessels and speak of a society and culture that valued rituals, such as rituals for burial, celebration, and worshiping gods and ancestors. Bronze was not used for common tools, such as hammers or hoes. Archaeologists have dug up thousands of Shang bronze pieces, ranging from small objects to huge food and wine vessels weighing as much as 2,000 pounds. The artistry and workmanship of the bronze pieces reveal the Shang’s mastery of bronze technology. The Shang perfected a technique known as piece-mold casting, a complicated process that involved creating a mold out of clay; carving a design into it; pouring molten bronze into the mold; cracking the mold away; and adding handles as a final step. The actual shape, design, and decoration of ritual vessels changed over time according to changing importance of rituals and belief systems. The Use of the Chariot and Bronze Weaponsin Warfare The advancement of bronze technology and the use of bronze weapons gave the Shang military great advantage over their enemies and completely changed the way they fought wars. They used newly-developed weapons like the bronze-tipped halberd and spear, the compound bow; and most importantly, they used horse-drawn chariots.The chariot, which had most likely been introduced from western Asia, completely changed the way battles were fought. Chariots allowed commanders to supervise their troops efficiently and across great distances. They also gave soldiers a significant edge over their opponents by making them highly mobile and fast. Since war was central to life during the Shang Dynasty, these developments in weapons were very important in allowing the Shang to maintain its military supremacy.
- the Bronze age occurred during the time of the Shang Dynasty
- This metal was rare and precious during the Bronze Age
- Bronze was very common during the Shang Dynasty
- Battle chariots, battle axes, vases, drinking cups, and urns were all items made of bronze
- Bronze was also the metal of royalty and tombs of many kings were filled with works made of bronze
- Drums and other instruments were also sometimes crafted out of bronze.