Lesson 20 Quiz

The ax head reveals the following characteristics of the Shang dynasty except

• government

• technology

• religion

• writing

The following artifacts show the "religion" characteristic of the Shang dynasty except

• vessel

• shells

• oracle bone

• skulls

Above the farmers in the social structure were

• slaves

• nobles

• artisans

• traders

Human sacrifices were a part of Shang burials because

• when they died their life force passed on

• The King needed to be served in the after life

• people inherited skills from sacrificed beings

• the sacrificed people could speak to the dead ancestors and help the living

The Shang armies were powerful because

• they used iron weapons

• they used bronze weapons

• they used bows and arrows

• They used long spears

The Shang religion focused on

• communicating with their ancestors

• worshipping many gods

• making statues of gods

• mummifying the dead

What are "oracle bones"?

• bones left behind from human sacrifices

• bones that families used to predict when crops would grow or floods would come

• bones used to perform a ritual

• turtle shells heated and cracked to reveal the answer to a question

Why was writing important to the Shang people?

• they could finally keep records

• they were unified through writing

• they had written laws

• everyone learned to write

What allowed the Shang dynasty to remain in power for more than 500 years?

• a common writing system

• a unified government

• a strong military

• their bronze making skill

All of the following contributed to the end of the Shang dynasty except

• When one of the Shang rulers died the people fought each other and the land was in chaos

• The Shang government spent extravagant amounts of money

• The constant warfare weakened the military power of the Shang dynasty

• A corrupt Shang King