Ancient China-Shang and Zhou Dynasties

THE ACHIEVERS, EXPLORERS, SCHOLARS (AES) PROGRAMME
Subject: UAE Social Studies

Grade- 5
Book 1 Unit-3: Ancient Civilizations
Lesson 4: Ancient China-Shang and Zhou Dynasties
_________________________________________________________________
Learning Objectives
❖ Analyse the importance of coins in ancient China.
❖ Examine the principle features of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties in Ancient China.
General Instructions:
❖ Study from UAE Social Studies worksheet for your assessments.
❖ Maintain the notebook work as instructed by your teacher.
A. Read the questions carefully and select the correct options:

1. ___________ is a type of government which is led by a king, a queen or an emperor.
a. Democracy
b. Monarchy
c. Dictatorship
d. Oligarchy
Answer: b. Monarchy
2. The people who study the material remains of the past are known as ___________.
a. historians
b. archaeologists
c. cartographers
d. sociologists
Answer: b. archaeologists
3. I am a form of government that was prevalent during the reign of Zhou Dynasty in
Ancient China. Who am I?
a. Absolute monarchy
b. Feudal system
c. Democracy
d. Dictatorship
Answer: b. Feudal system
4. Name the first material that was used by the people of ancient China as a medium of
exchange before the introduction of coins.
a. Bronze
b. Gold
c. Seashells
d. Silver
Answer: c. Seashells
5. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the coins of Ancient China?
a. The people of ancient China started using coins over 2,000 years ago.
b. The first metal coins of ancient China were in the shapes of everyday used objects like knife,
spade and fish.
c. The ancient Chinese coins helped to enhance agricultural production.
d. The coins of ancient China played a crucial role in the development of trade.
Answer: c. The ancient Chinese coins helped to enhance agricultural production.
6. How did the archeologists gather information about the Shang Dynasty in Ancient
China?
a. They met the descendants of the Shang Dynasty.
b. They found oracle bones which had information about the kings who ruled the Shang Dynasty.
c. They learned the language that was used by the people of the Shang Dynasty.
d. They interpreted the cave paintings that were found in ancient China.
Answer: b. They found oracle bones which had information about the kings who ruled the
Shang Dynasty.
B. Answer the following questions:

1. Which form of government was followed in the Shang dynasty of Ancient
China?
Answer: The Shang dynasty in Ancient China was an absolute monarchy. About 30 kings ruled
the Shang dynasty over a period of 600 years from 1600 to 1050 BCE.
2. Explain the rise of the dynasty system in the Ancient China over 4,000 years ago.
Answer: In China, the people started settling in the areas around the Yellow River. In 5000
BCE, the area was suitable for practicing terrace farming and rice could be grown in abundance.
This allowed the people of China to settle in villages. Later these led to the rise of more complex
organized societies including the dynasty system which started in China over 4000 years ago.
3. Oracle bones are considered as important sources to trace the history of Shang dynasty.
Justify. (To be done in the notebook)
Answer:
• Archaeologists are able to learn about the kings of Shang dynasty from the ancient writings on
bones known as the oracle bones.
• If a king wanted to make an important decision, he would have the various choices of the
decision written on the bones.
• The bones would be placed close to a fire until the bones cracked.
• The choice written in the cracked place on the bone, was supposed to be the correct choice for
the king to follow.
• The study of the oracle bones also helped the archaeologists to understand the problems faced
by the kings of the Shang dynasty and the lifestyle of the people during that era.
4. Examine the social structure of the Zhou dynasty in Ancient China.

Answer: The government of the Zhou dynasty used a hierarchical system called feudalism.
Levels of the feudal system included:
• State rulers and ministers: In the Zhou Dynasty, the highest level were the state rulers and
their ministers. The rulers had a lot of wealth from inheritance. Inheritance are things passed
from one person to another-like house, money etc.
• Peasants: The peasant farmers grew the food for the people. Their wealth came from what
they grew and they could own land.
• Craftsmen: They made things needed by the people-like weapons for soldiers or tables and
chairs for houses.
• Merchants: Merchants were an important group. They traded products. They would buy
goods in one area or city and then sell them in another city. They were a low class of people
in ancient China as they did not own or make anything.
• Servants: They belonged to the lowest group. They lived in poverty as they had no wealth or
property.
5. State the significance of coins in the Ancient China.

Answer:
• Over 2,000 years ago places in China started using coins. First, they used seashells and later
they made coins from metals such as bronze.
• The first coins in China were in everyday shapes-like in the shape of spades, knives and
fish.
• Later they made round shaped coins. The coins often had holes in them so that people
could keep the coins together on a stick or string.
• The coins were required, as trade became more important.
• Trade led to a market economy and a market economy has an exchange of things. Coins
could be given to people for things they made.
6. Cross-Curricular Link (Art): (To be done in the notebook):

Draw different types of coins prevalent during the era of Zhou Dynasty in ancient China.
(Browse the internet or refer your UAE Social Studies Textbook.)
7. Critical Thinking Question: Compare and contrast the ways in which people of Ancient
China and modern men get their wealth. (To be done in the notebook)
Reflective Log:
My Reflection:
I learnt ………………………………………
I wish to learn……………………………….

Ancient China-Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ancient China-Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ancient China-Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE ACHIEVERS, EXPLORERS, SCHOLARS (AES) PROGRAMME

Subject: UAE Social Studies

A. Read the questions carefully and select the correct options:

B. Answer the following questions:

4. Examine the social structure of the Zhou dynasty in Ancient China.

5. State the significance of coins in the Ancient China.

6. Cross-Curricular Link (Art): (To be done in the notebook):

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.