How did the Shang army win battles?

Life in Ancient China involved many battles between different groups.

The Shang Dynasty began by winning a battle and ended because they lost a battle.

They needed a powerful army because they had to protect their lands from people trying to conquer them, which means to take control of their land using force. At the same time, they also wanted to conquer new lands from other people.

Important words on how the Shang army won battles.

Watch the video to learn more about The Shang army.

The Shang Dynasty came to power by victory in battle and were eventually defeated in battle.

Shang troops (soldiers) fought frequent wars with neighbouring settlements and with some nomadic herdsmen, who were people that moved from place to place and lived on the large grasslands to the north and west of China.

Battles decided the fate of some of the kings.

At the Battle of Mingtiao, the strong Shang Dynasty began under Cheng Tang, the first Shang king.

The last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated at the Battle of Muye, by Wu of Zhou after a large part of his army turned against him and either joined the opposing side or refused to fight.

The following Zhou Dynasty lasted for the next 800 years.

Click through the slideshow to learn more about what kinds of weapons the Shang Dynasty made.

The Shang king kept a force of about a thousand troops at his capital and would personally lead them into battle.

Shang armies were made up of the nobility, as well as town-dwellers and countryside labourers.

The nobility and other state rulers had to provide their local garrisons (groups of soldiers that are based in a town or city to defend it) with all the equipment, armour, and weapons they needed.

Armies ranged in size from 3,000 soldiers to 13,000.

The last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated at the Battle of Muye, by Wu of Zhou, after being betrayed by his army.

King Wu of Zhou led an army of around 50,000 but Di Xin had 170,000 soldiers in the capital city of Yin.

At the start of the battle, many of Di’s soldiers refused to fight for him, showing this by holding their spears upside down.

Some of them joined Wu but others chose to fight for Di Xin.

Wu’s soldiers were better armed and loyal, and broke the Shang soldiers in a chariot charge, forcing Di Xin to retreat to his palace.

He shortly died.

It was the end of the Shang Dynasty.

Have a look at the thinking point below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• In a battle why would it be a good idea for an army to place its archers behind its foot soldiers?

Click through the interactive to sort the Shang soldiers.

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