HST 197 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4-5: Oracle Bone, Oracle Bone Script
Document Summary
Ruling elites: the royal family and noble families occupied the top positions in society. They reside in large compounds and lived on the agricultural surplus and taxes delivered by their subjects. Privileged class of hereditary aristocrats rose from military allies of shang and zhou rulers. Lived in cities where they performed administrative and military tasks. They took classes that outlined proper behavior and the proper way to carry out rituals. Specialized labor: small class of free artisans and craftsmen. Worked almost exclusively for the privileged classes. Merchants and traders: were apart of the long distance trade routes. Bronze tools were too expensive for them, so they made their own tools out of cheaper material. Most were captured from enemies during war. They performed the hard labor for the empire. Chinese society vested authority in elder males who headed their households. 2 queens had temples dedicated to them. Some women were consorts to the kings.
