What happened c. 1150 BCE

What happened c. 1150 BCE

The Shang Dynasty ended in about 1050 BCE, when conquerors from the state of Zhou invaded the capital and successfully toppled the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou conquerors claimed to overthrow the Shang Dynasty for moral reasons. They said that the Shang king was evil and that heaven no longer wanted him to rule. They blamed the Shang’s downfall on its king’s excessive drinking, indulgent lifestyle, and immoral behavior. The downfall remained a cautionary tale to kings and emperors for years to come

Religion

Religion

Underneath the aristocratic class was the priest class. The priests kept the records of the government and were also in charge of religion. The religion in the time of the Shang dynasty was based on ancestor worship and a worship of many gods; the main god was known as Shang Ti, the Lord on High.
This god ruled as a supreme god over lesser gods, the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, and other natural forces and places. Highly ritualized, ancestor worship became a part of the Shang religion. Sacrifice to the gods and the ancestors was also a major part of the Shang religion. When a king died, hundreds of slaves and prisoners were often sacrificed and buried with him. People were also sacrificed in lower numbers when important events, such as the founding of a palace or temple, occurred.










Shang ti temple

Buildings/structures/artefacts

Buildings/structures/artefacts

The Great Bath








Most scholars say that this place would have been used for special religious functions where water was used to purify and renew the well being of the bathers.

'Priest king' statue












So-called "Priest King" statue,Mohenjo-Daro, late Mature Harrapan period, Found in National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

Pashupati












Seals have been found at Mohenjo-daro depicting a figure sitting cross-legged in what some call a yoga-like pose

What happened c. 1,500 BCE

There are still no evidence of how the Indus Valley Civilisation came to an end. It was still a mystery of why, how and what but it was believe that the end of the civilisation was due to an invasion or a climate change that cause destruction.

Occupations and Writings

Occupations

-Farmers




People who grow crops and sell them to traders for money.





-Traders


The Indus civilization's economy appears to have depended significantly on trade.







-Potters


Pot makers. The pots are used for cooking and other daily uses.










Writings
Well over 400 distinct Indus symbols (some say 600) have been found on seals, small tablets, or ceramic pots and over a dozen other materials, including a "signboard" that apparently once hung over the gate of the inner citadel of the Indus city of Dholavira.


Ten Indus characters discovered near the northern gate of Dholavira

Recap questions

1.What are primary and secondary sources?

Primary sources are information provided by people who were involved or witnessed historical events. Secondary sources are the records of people who did not directly participate or witness the events they describe.

2.How do historians make sure their sources are reliable?

By making sure their sources are reliable, historians test their consistency, credibility and corroboration.

3. Why and when is it neccesary for historians to revise their interpretations of past events?

When there are new evidence found, historians have to revise their interpretations.

Recap

1.What do we learn when we study history?
We learn about the past events and try to improve on mistakes that we have done in the past.

2.Name 4 good reasons for studying history?

To improve on past mistakes

To know about how things had happened

To know the history of some monuments or statues

To make the present better from the past