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Watch: Jobs in the Shang dynasty

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What did the higher classes do?

  • The position of king in the Shang dynasty was hereditary. This meant you had to be born into the royal family to be king.

  • There were many positions at the royal court though, including:

    • agricultural officials
    • dog officers for hunting
    • guards
    • musicians
    • astronomers
  • Nobles had a lot of money and power, depending on their relationship with the royal family.

  • There would have also been scribes to write. We know this from discovering oracle bones with writing on them.

Shang king and his wife
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What did ordinary Shang people do?

Three workers in the shang dynasty
  • Ordinary people were conscripted (made to) to fight in the army.

  • Artisans and labourers made bronze vessels and weapons.

  • A lot of people worked in the mines and transporting the copper, tin and lead used to make bronze.

  • Most people were labourers on the farms or craftspeople.

Three workers in the shang dynasty
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What did Shang women do?

Fu Hao
  • Women were not allowed to have the jobs in public life that men had.

  • They were also not allowed to take exams.

  • Instead they specialised in skills and crafts for women only such as weaving.

  • But they could reach high office and attain great powers as we know from the life of Fu Hao, military general and high priestess.

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Which job might you have done during the Shang Dynasty?

A Jade carver

Are you creative?

  • Do you like making things, drawing and painting?
  • Are you a patient person who loves trying new things?

You might have been a jade carver.

Jade carvers would spend a long time making detailed jewellery from the pale green stone, jade. It's a job that would suit someone who likes art.

A Jade carver
A King in the Shang Dynasty

Are you confident?

  • Are you the leader of your friends?
  • Do they ask for your advice and you help them?
  • Do you like making up new games for you all to play?

You might have been a king.

The king had to make difficult decisions. People would rely on the king's advice and looked up to him. It's a job which would suit a confident person.

A King in the Shang Dynasty
A soldier from the Shang Dynasty

Are you active?

  • Are you really sporty?
  • Do you like running, climbing and playing games outside?
  • Can you not sit still for very long?

You might have been a soldier.

Soldiers had to be very brave. They fought using spears and bows and arrows. There weren't any guns or cannons. This job might suit someone who is very sporty.

A soldier from the Shang Dynasty
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Activities

Activity 1: Which is the correct job?

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Activity 2: Shang dynasty jobs quiz

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Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
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