Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Fall of the Shang Dynasty

The last of the Shang kings was dominated by women, giving up to sensual self-indulgence with his 'pools of wine and forest of meat,' oppressing people with his taxes, craving open pregnant women to examine the fetus, and killing or imprisoning all who remonstrated against him.

King wu launched an attack on the Shang empire in 1120 BCE. This attack was not suceesful. But the second attack ( which is 2 years later) was successful, and the armies of King Wu invaded and sacked Yin, capital of Shang dynasty.

The last Shang king, commited suicide after his army defeated by the Zhou people. There are legends saythat his army betrayed himby joining the Zhou rebels in a decisive battle that took place.

Information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_Dynasty
www.art-and-archaeoloy.com/timelines/china/shang/html

Religion

The Shang worshipped a figure they called "Shang Ti", or "Lord On High" . This supreme god ruled over lesser gods of the sun, the moon, the rain and other natural forces and places. Shang Ti also regulated human affairs as well as ruling material universe. This dual function would, in the Chou dynasty, be attributed to a more abstract figure, "tíen" or "Heaven".

The Shang also believed that their ancestors dwelled in heaven after their death and continued to show an interest in their family a descendants. The obligations within the family included, therefore , the ancestors. Failing in one's duties to the ancestors could bring all sorts of disaster on a family.

All these divine and semi-divine figures, from Shang Ti to a family's ancestors were sacrificed to. However, we know little of the nature and frequency of these sacrifices.

We do know, however that in the Chou dynasty only the king could sacrificed to Shang Ti, it is highly likely that Shang Ti was the"local king" of the Shang kings who was subsequently elevated in order to elevate the Shang themselves. Lesser were sacrificed at the founding of a palace or temple.

Information taken from
http://wsu.edu/~dee/ANCCHINA/SHANG.HTM

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Features of the Indus Valley Civilisation


What is it?
Dish-on-stand

What is it made of?
Clay

Who made it?
The potter

Why is it needed for?
For ritual purpose

Where is it found?
At the foot of a flexed burial



What is it?
Cooking pot
What is it for?
To contain food

Who made it?
The potter at that time
Who has it at that time?
Every family would have one
How is it design?
Large globular shape



What is it?
City wall

Who build it?
People at that time

What is it for?
To prevent other people from other country to attack them

What is it made of?
Maybe bricks

How far is it away from the main city wall?
Approximately 4 metres

Occupation



Engineer:t to build these buildings









Jewellery Designer: designer these jewellery for the people at that time






Potters: to make this pottery for some purposes

Sorry for both blogs (WRITTINGSss) and (What had happened c. 1500 BCE)

Images taken from http://harappa.com/har/har0.html

Information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Ancient/Indus2.html

Friday, July 17, 2009

WRITTINGSss....





Yes there are evidence to indicate that the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation had a system of communication.

What happened c. 1500 BCE

There are still no evidence to provide ways of looking at the past of the Indus Valley Civilisation. It was still a mystery of why, how and what had happened to caused a rapid end to the Indus Valley Civilisation but it was believe that the decline of the civilsation was due to the invading Aryans. Besides this, it was also told(no evidence to support it) that the climate change such as flood could also be the reason of the decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Recap Qns.

1)Primary sources are information provided by people who were involved in historical events or who witneesed teh events.
Secondary sources are the records of people who did not directly participate in or witness the events as they describe. These records are the results of the study and investigation of primary sources.

2)Historians make sure that the evidence are reliable by using the 3Cs - Corroboration, Consistency and Credibility tests.

3)New pieces of evidence are constanly being discovered. Such evidence can provide new ways of looking at the past, therefore historians have to be prepared to "update" and revise their views or interpretation of events as new evidence becomes avaliable.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

History Textbook Page 21 And 22

Page 21
1) Source A is a primary source. It is provided by the people who witnessed or involved in the events.
Source B is a primary source. Source A and B are consistent with each other.
Source C is a secondary source. It is just an opinion.
2) No.

Page 22
* the government
*Anglo-Tamil, English, private English-medium schools
*Many people opted for English-medium education because they felt that it could get them a better job.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Reflections

Q1) Why do you think we need to study history?
Ans: We need to study History so that we learn about the past human events which can caused the difference between the past, the present and the future.

Q2) What do we learn when we study History?
Ans: We learn more about the things and people happened or living in the past.

Q3)Name 4 good reasons for studying History?
Ans: We can know what things happened in the past, who made these things happened, why do they made these things happened and where are they at that time.