Shang Dynasty of Ancient China

Learning about the Shang Dynasty of Ancient China, its bronze work, oracle bones and early writing

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1
The Shang Dynasty ruled in which country? A) China B) India C) Egypt D) Italy
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2
Which metal were the Shang especially famous for making things from? A) Bronze B) Iron C) Silver D) Plastic
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3
True or false? The Shang Dynasty used a form of early writing. A) True B) False
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4
In which country did the Shang Dynasty rule? A) China B) India C) Egypt D) Greece
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5
Fill in the blank: Shang priests asked questions of the gods using ___ bones.
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6
Match each Shang word to its meaning. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Dynasty, Bronze, Oracle bone, Shang Right: A line of rulers from the same family, A metal made of copper and tin, Bone used to ask gods questions, An early Chinese dynasty
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7
What was a Shang oracle bone mainly used for? A) Asking gods questions about the future B) Holding food C) Making music D) Building houses
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8
About when did the Shang Dynasty rule in China? A) Around 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE B) Around 1000 CE C) Around the year 2000 CE D) Around 100 BCE to 1 CE
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9
Fill in the blank: A line of rulers from the same family is called a ___.
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10
Put these ancient civilisations in order from earliest start to latest start. Put these in order: Shang Dynasty (China), Indus Valley, Roman Britain
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Answer key

Shang Dynasty of Ancient China · for parents and teachers

1
China
The Shang Dynasty was one of the earliest known dynasties (royal families) of Ancient China.
2
Bronze
The Shang were famous for skilful bronze work, making bowls, weapons and ceremonial objects.
3
True
True. The Shang used an early form of Chinese writing, often scratched onto oracle bones.
4
China
The Shang Dynasty was one of the earliest dynasties in ancient China.
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oracle
Oracle bones were animal bones or turtle shells that priests heated until they cracked. The cracks were read as messages from the gods.
6
Dynasty → A line of rulers from the same family; Bronze → A metal made of copper and tin; Oracle bone → Bone used to ask gods questions; Shang → An early Chinese dynasty
A dynasty is a family of rulers, the Shang were one such family, and they used bronze and oracle bones.
7
Asking gods questions about the future
Shang priests wrote questions on oracle bones and heated them. The cracks were thought to give answers from the gods.
8
Around 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE
The Shang Dynasty ruled from about 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE. That is more than 3,000 years ago.
9
dynasty
A dynasty is a line of rulers from the same family. The Shang were one of China's earliest dynasties.
10
Indus Valley, Shang Dynasty (China), Roman Britain
The Indus Valley civilisation started first, then the Shang Dynasty, and Roman Britain came thousands of years later.