The Shang Dynasty

The Shang people asked their gods questions about the future through a priest or a diviner. The questions were written down on oracle bones or tortoise shells. Words such as 'Fields', 'Rice' and 'Wheat' appeared frequently. There were also records about the Shang kings asking for rain. All these can prove that China grew into and agricultural society latest in the Shang Dynasty.

In early times, most farming tools were made of stone, bone and wood. In the later years of the Shang Dynasty, bronze tools also appeared. At that time, the farming method was very primitive. People first used stone axes to cut down trees and obtained a small plot of land. They burnt the trees to produce fertilizers. They then ploughed and sowed. After that, they would leave the farm and wait for harvest. The soil became weak easily in this kind of farming. Because of this, people often had fo shift fo other places to find new farmlands.
 
 

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