What was it like to live in the Shang dynasty?

The civilisation was based on agriculture, hunting and animals. Buildings were built from mud.

The oldest surviving records from Anyang tell us that under the late Shang dynasty writing was fully developed.

We also know there were musical instruments and astronomers observed the planet Mars and comets.

People did not eat rice or drink tea but ate bread, wheat, cheese and beer.

At the palace of Yinxu, near Anyang, there were as many as 53 buildings around the palace complex, as well as storage, servants’ quarters and housing.

The king was the military commander and was in charge of the court appointments.

The king also led the religious ceremonies which included ancestor worship.

Decorated tombs were built for the kings, who were buried with carriages, utensils and weapons for the afterlife. Servants and horses, were also buried alive with them.

Craftspeople made cups, bowls and weapons from bronze. This needed a lot of people to do the work, and managers to watch over the craftsmen.

Bronze items were used more for religious ceremonies than in everyday life.

Ordinary people used stone or wood to make their cups and bowls.