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Watch: Jobs in the Shang dynasty

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What did richer Shang people do?

  • The king was born in to the royal family.

  • Important jobs at the royal court included:

    • dog officers for hunting
    • guards
    • musicians
    • astronomers
  • Nobles often had money and power.

Shang king and his wife
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What jobs did ordinary people have?

Three workers in the shang dynasty
  • Some were made to fight in the army.
  • Others were craftspeople or miners.
  • Most people were labourers on farms.
  • Women were not allowed to have jobs, or take exams.
  • Most women did jobs like weaving.
Three workers in the shang dynasty
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Which job could you have done?

A Jade carver

Do you like making things, drawing and painting?

  • You might have been a jade carver. They spent a long time making jewellery from the pale green stone, jade.
A Jade carver
A King in the Shang Dynasty

Do your friends ask for your advice and help?

  • You might have been a king. The king had to make difficult decisions.
A King in the Shang Dynasty
A soldier from the Shang Dynasty

Are you really sporty?

  • You might have been a soldier. They fought using spears and bows and arrows.
A soldier from the Shang Dynasty
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Activities

Activity 1: Which is the correct job?

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Activity 2: Shang dynasty jobs quiz

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Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
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