Study Guides

Unit Summary

These units analyse the way in which archaeologists have found out about the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Shang dynasty. Whichever unit is chosen, pupils examine the archaeological record of an early civilisation and develop their knowledge of what claims are based on these remains.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why oracle bones are such an important source of evidence for people who study the Shang Dynasty.

Key Notes

• The Shang Dynasty created the first form of Chinese writing in which characters were used to represent words and ideas.
• The most detailed examples of this writing exist on oracle bones because they have survived longer than silk or bamboo.
• Questions were carved into them and then the bones were heated, causing cracks which diviners would interpret.
• Oracle bones were carved with questions about many subjects such as the weather, harvests, and Shang Dynasty rulers.
• The oracle bones have provided a wealth of evidence for historians about many aspects of the Shang Dynasty.

Vocabulary To Learn

• silk: silk is a fine, soft, shiny fibre produced by silkworms
• oracle bones: oracle bones were pieces of ox bone or turtle shell that were used by the Shang Dynasty to try to predict the future
• diviner: a diviner is someone who tries to find out things about the future

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Some may think that the Shang Dynasty symbols are exactly the same as the modern Chinese written symbols.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Bronze dings Study Guide
• Jade artefacts Study Guide
• The discovery of Fu Hao's tomb Study Guide
• What archaeologists have found out about the Shang Study Guide
• Who were the Shang? Study Guide