How many social classes did the Shang have?
four social classes
Citizens of the Shang Dynasty were classified into four social classes: the king and aristocracy, the military, artisans and craftsmen, and peasants. Members of the aristocracy were the most respected social class, and were responsible for governing smaller areas of the dynasty.
How was the Shang Dynasty society?
In summary, the Shang dynasty developed a social class system with the king and his ruling family at the top. Next were landowning nobles who supplied the king’s military with fighters and weapons. The artisans, traders, and merchants were all part of the middle class.

What were the 5 social classes in ancient China?
The social hierarchy in Ancient China was paramount. Emperors, government officials, nobles, peasants, merchants and slaves all had their role to play within Chinese society. This clip collection looks at each of these key groups, examining their daily life and the role law and religion played throughout society.
How did the kings and nobles live in the Shang Dynasty?
Shang kings and nobles: The rich lived in large homes and palaces made of mud and wood and they decorated with plenty of bronze items. They loved to hunt, especially with their bronze weapons that were decorated with elaborate designs.
Who were at the bottom of the Shang Dynasty social pyramid in society?

Shang society can be divided into six social classes. The king and his relatives were at the top. Below them were the nobles, craftspeople, traders, farmers, and slaves. The nobles made up the highest-ranking social class after the ruling family.
What was the Shi class?
ruler’s court as ministers; the shi (roughly translated as “gentlemen”) who served at the households of the feudal lords as stewards, sheriffs, or simply warriors; and, finally, the commoners and slaves. The state ruler and the ministers were clearly a superior class, and the commoners and slaves were an inferior…
What were the three main classes in Chinese society?
Main Idea: Chinese society had three main social classes: landowning aristocrats, farmers, and merchants.
What was family life like in the Shang Dynasty?
Family: For both the rich and the poor, the family was all important. The oldest male was the head of the family. If one member of a family did something wrong, the entire family was in disgrace. In the nobles, marriages were arranged to strength or to create a union between two clans or families.
What are the three main social classes of early China?
Who had control in Shang families society?
Shang Government Shang kings were powerful rulers who inherited their power and kept it through family ties and military might. Shang Social Classes Shang society can be divided into six social classes: the king’s clan, nobles, artisans, traders, farmers, and slaves.