How did the Shang Dynasty keep control?

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Earliest Civilisations: Shang Dynasty Warfare

Objectives

History

  • Children should undertake an in-depth study of The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China.
  • They should regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions.
  • Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations.
  • The expansion and dissolution of empires.
  • Characteristic features of past non-European societies.
  • Achievements and follies of mankind.

English

  • Explain and discuss their understanding of what they have read.
  • Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments.

Lesson Planning

Children will learn about the Shang army and then play a strategy game; become generals in the Shang army trying to keep the kingdom loyal, and to conquer other peoples to enlarge the kingdom.

Teaching Outcomes:

  • To explore how the Shang Dynasty kept control of its territory.
  • To discuss the information they have read about Shang warfare.

Children will:

  • Explain how Shang kings kept control.
  • Outline the elements of the Shang army.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how the Shang army worked.

You Will Need

  • Dice