Shang Dynasty Research Paper

986 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of confucianism on China

China has a long and diverse history of politics. From prehistoric times to the present, the people of China have gone from a civilization of hunter gathers to an agricultural society ruled by chiefs to an autocratic society headed by a succession of emperors and finally to the current government often referred to as “Communism with Chinese characteristics”. China’s past has had a huge influence on it’s people, government and culture today. At times closed to the outside world and a mystery to the west, China has been a place of intrigue to many throughout history. Currently China has the largest population in the world and the second largest economy. Its influence in world politics continues to increase as territorial disputes arise and …show more content…

There is evidence of a king, nobles, commoners and slaves. The Shang dynasty had highly organized armies. The first writing system, a series of ideograms, pictograms and phonograms was developed during the Shang Dynasty. The empire was further unified in the Chou Dynasty (1122-221BC) when kings began to be referred to as “Sons of Heaven”, who had a right to rule as long as heaven mandated. Similar to the western feudal system, the society was based on hunting as well as agriculture. Non-Chinese, mainly the nomads of Mongolia were known as barbarians. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the use of iron increased agricultural output, population growth and war among states. (Chinese Cultural Studies, …show more content…

Mao Zhe Dong, still revered today, despite the failures of The Great Leap Forward and The Cultural Revolution, led the party until his death in 1976. Today the Communist Party, with 73 million members is the largest political party in the world. At the top of the structure is The National Party Congress, which convenes every five years to elect a central committee. In practice, nearly all decisions are decided by a small group of 24 in the Politburo, in which the nine-member Standing Committee hold the most power. China’s military, The People’s Liberation Army, defends the party as much as it’s borders. (How China is Ruled) Far from true communism today’s politics in China is often referred to as “Communism with Chinese

Show More
Related

  • Changes And Continuities In The Shang Dynasty

    1657 Words  | 4 Pages

    The fall of the Shang dynasty ended the river valley society in China, and made way for the beginning of developed civilization in China. After the collapsed Shang dynasty came the Zhou dynasty, which began in 1029 BCE and flourished until 700 BCE, but it did not officially collapse until 403 BCE. Following that came the period of political disintegration and unease, known as the Era of the Warring States, from 402 BCE to 222 BCE. Finally, the Qin dynasty arose in 221 BCE and brought order back to China, however this did not last, and the dynasty fell in 207 BCE. Revolts over the Qin emperor’s death broke out, and it was the rise of the Han dynasty that restored China’s political

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Chinese Dynasty And Shang Dynasty

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    The dynasty was a complex, war-like society, occupied by city states. Each city state had their own rulers, but were tied to the dynasty by allegiance or kinship, creating political unity. Historians know more about the Shang society because of the written records and documents that were found in the capital, Anyang. The Shang society was divided into a class system. At the top of the system was the king and his warrior nobles, followed by the artisans, then the peasants, and at the bottom was slaves and prisoners of war. The Shang Dynasty focused their religion on ancestor worship, a belief system based on spirits of dead ancestors helping the living relatives. This religion involved sacrifices of both animals and slaves to achieve divine favor. By the 12th century, Shang leaders became oppressive and corrupt. The Shang society was dominated by the

    Read More

  • Born Under The Red Flag Analysis

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    For many outsiders, it might be easy to assume that all Chinese value communism, or that communism is the only thing to define Chinese politics by. However, when we watched “Born Under the Red Flag”, we could see that the Chinese views on communism are less black and white, and a little more complicated than one might think. Communism has played a big role as the main political system of China throughout its history, but not all Chinese have liked communism, just as not all have been against it. In the documentary “Born Under the Red Flag”, we can really see the reception of Communism in China, and how many have been split between those who oppose it and those who fight for it. During the rule of Chairman Mao Zedong, many of the youth became part of the infamous Red Guards, who used very violent and aggressive means to impose the teachings of Mao Zedong and communism on any person who was against it. These youth were so dedicated to Chairman Mao that they would go very far in enforcing his rule. Years later great numbers of youth in China were taking a different stance on communism, and marched in Tiananmen Square during the protests of 1989, wanting democracy instead of communism. Unfortunately this became a massacre, as the government would not give into the demands of the youth. Communism is certainly something one can come to associate China with, but even with that it can be hard to make assumptions that apply to all. To think that communism was a horrible oppressive system that did nothing but hurt the Chinese people is not completely accurate, as many loved the teachings of Communism and thought highly of Mao Zedong. But it is also not accurate to say that all Chinese people embraced communism, as it is clear that many opposed it. So the true thoughts of the Chinese on Communism, largely could depend on which Chinese person you ask, as many throughout the years

    Read More

  • Confucianism In The Shang Dynasty

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    China was without a doubt one of the most innovative countries by reason of their many advances made throughout the Shang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Numerous accomplishments were archived by this empire. Their form of government was based on Dynasties, which are series of rulers from the same family. Different dynasties brought out different successes, such as the famous Great wall, which was a 13,170 miles fortress built around around 206 A.C. by millions of people. This structure was ordered to build by China’s first emperor, Qin, in the interest of protecting the Empire from invaders. Another extraordinary Chinese invention was paper. This universal utensil was created in the 2nd century B.C. by Cai Lun. The creating of this material

    Read More

  • Mao vs. Deng

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mao's period of communal reform and the establishment of the Communist party from 1949-1976 was needed in order for Deng's individual oriented, capitalist society to thrive. Mao's period encompassed the structure of a true dictatorial communist government. It strove to concentrate on unifying communities to create a strong political backbone while being economically self-sufficient and socially literate and educated in Maoist propaganda. Under Mao's leadership individual wealth was seen as a hindrance to community goals in meeting production quotas and was crushed by such policies as collectivization, land reformation, and movements such as The Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Under his rule, modeled under the Stalinist USSR archetype, China raised its masses from poverty and starvation to a standard of living that was considered a substantial upgrade.

    Read More

  • Causes of Chinese Communism

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    China, along with most every country in history, has long had conflicts which caused new governments to take power. However, China’s civil war of the 1940’s was the first that caused a non-dynastic government to come to power in China. The Communist and Nationalist parties struggled over who would finally take control of the fledgling government. The Nationalist party represented more traditional Confucian values, as well as (oddly enough) democracy. In contrast, the Communists wished to dismantle the traditional social hierarchies and establish a socialist state. The Nationalist army was less trained for war than the Communists after they avoided battle in the recent Japan-China War. Perhaps the most important cause of this conflict, millions of peasants became disillusioned with the system that had caused their crushing poverty, and wanted the control of their own fates that Communists promised. They would not take control easily.

    Read More

  • The Han Dynasty

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Han Dynasty, the amazing Chinese era to have said to unified China for over 400 years old. This era in China’s history began in 206 B.C when a rebel armies rose up against the Qin army. One rebellion, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang was later joined by Xiang Liang, Xiang Yu, Ying Bu, and Peng Yue joined forces with Liu Bang. The people of the Qin Dynasty were unhappy under the rule of Qin Shihuang who was ran his empire with an iron fist. His rule was absolute and disagreeing was punishable by death, though Emperor Qin was the one who to end the Warring States as well as complete the conquering of China in 221 B.C, thus expanding the Chinese state. After the takeover, Liu Bang took the name as Emperor of China and changed his given name to Emperor Gaozu and the Qin laws were abolished.

    Read More

  • The Democratic Change In China

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    China is the largest developing country in today’s world and the rapid growth of the Chinese economy has attracted attention from all over the world. Some people falsely think that China is a country that China is only pursuing their economic reform, but without any democratic changes. On the contrary, China actually has a long history of democratic reforms. China has a different way of democratic reform that different from western-style democracy, which made Westerners think China is a powerful country with limitations in democracy. However, my point of view is that China is not limiting their democratic change, and China is utilizing a distinctive form of democracy.

    Read More

  • Changes And Continuities In China 1900-1950

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout, 1900- 1950 there were a number of changes and continuities in China. From the fall of the dynasties to the rise of the Communist Party, these changes shaped China’s government and society. Although, many political changes were made multiple continuities were held constant such as, consistent rebellions and the lack of democracy.

    Read More

  • Communism in China

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was the events between 1946 and 1964 that strengthened communism in China. At the end of World War II, the Nationalist Party (GMD) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) raced for power in China. The chairman of the Communist Party was Mao Zedong and their army was known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Nationalist’s were led by Chiang Kai-shek and their army was the Kuomintang.

    Read More

  • Shang And Zhou Dynasties: Similarities And Differences

    415 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Dynastic cycle, the Shang and Zhou Dynasties of ancient China showed similar periods of decline. They had both similarities and differences. Both Dynasties had an authoritarian type of government, Which means that they both have one main ruler with lots of power that gives only a little power to the government. Starting off, there were many similarities between the Shang and Zhou dynasties. During their rule, both Shang and Zhou leaders started ignoring the needs of the people and not only the poor. Both leaders only cared about their wealth and not the problems of the people. They started giving only a little money to the wealth. Well, both Dynasties were similar in some way they also had some differences. After Shang rulers started

    Read More

  • Tang And Song Dynasty Essay

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tang Dynasty’s rise is similar to the rise of the Han Dynasty, which began over 800 years earlier. The first emperor of the tang, Kao-tsu (618-626 C.E.), implemented many of the practices and ideas established during the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Kao-tsu carried on the tradition of local government rule, and also awarded each adult male in China equal amounts of land, in exchange for taxes. Emperor Taizong, who began rule in 626 C.E., was the son of Kao-tsu, also played an important role in the economic expansion of China and ruled during the beginning decades of the Tang. Emperor Taizong’s reign beg...

    Read More

  • Zhou Dynasty Dbq

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example, the Zhou dynasty bases parts of the Mandate of Heaven on filial piety. In his “Classic of Filial Piety,” Confucius states that a ruler should honor and respect his parents, and once he does this, “he is able to make his teaching of virtue successful, and his government and orders to be carried into effect.” In keeping with filial piety and the Mandate of Heaven, the Zhou dynasty was able to use these philosophies to conquer the Shang dynasty and become the longest lasting dynasty as its reigned for nearly 800 years, from 1045-256 B.C.E. However, in contrast with the Mandate of Heaven, the Qin dynasty followed a legalist perspective on ruling a government with a strict meritocracy where soldiers could rise in rank if they did well in war, regardless of family titles. Their way of governing worked because their soldiers fought with incentive, making their army and government strongest of most dynasties. The legalist thinkers believed that all men were to be treated identically and that subjects were not to challenge the ruler’s authority for they were to follow the laws set, which were set by the

    Read More

  • The Chinese Revolution

    1910 Words  | 4 Pages

    As it’s known around the world, Chinese political system is Communism. Some may say that communism is good and bad. Well it all began when Mao Zedong came into power, his ideas influenced Chinese people and how the true way of living is. The introduction of communism into China changed how people perceived each other. One of his first ideas was “The Great Leap Forward,” which a lot of historians considered as a failure because its initial goals were never met. The Chinese society was losing faith in Mao, and not loyal to him. In desperate needs, Mao came up with the “Cultural Revolution” or also known was “The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”. Mao main goal was to turn all people to follow the idea of communism, but not in the way like Russia did. Even though a huge amount of people died and harmed the future image of China. Mao did whatever it took to make people to follow his ideas, he didn’t matter what the consequences were, and he was willing to kill anybody who was a “counter revolutionary.” Well, was his idea successful? it mostly depends on your point of view. According to Dictionary.com, successful mean achieving or having success. This revolution has impacted everybody, with witnessed accounts during the Mao’s rule. At last, did it work? In the following essay, Mao’s ideas how people view communism as a form of a government than the abuse of power.

    Read More

  • China's Foreign Policy

    498 Words  | 1 Pages

    China's Foreign Policy Since the initial warming of U.S.-China relations in the early 1970’s, policymakers have had difficulty balancing conflicting U.S. policy concerns in the People’s Republic of China. In the strange world of diplomacy between the two, nothing is predictable. From Nixon to Clinton, presidents have had to reconcile security and human rights concerns with the corporate desire for expanded economic relations between the two countries. Nixon established ties with Mao Zedong’s brutal regime in 1972. And today, Clinton’s administration is trying to influence China’s course from within a close economic and diplomatic relationship.

    Read More

More about Shang Dynasty Research Paper

Open Document