How did the Shang army win battles? | History for Year 6 PDF Download

What were important battles?

• The Shang dynasty rose to power through a decisive victory in battle and was ultimately overthrown in a similar manner. The Shang frequently engaged in warfare with neighboring settlements and nomadic herdsmen from the inner Asian steppes. Key battles were pivotal in determining the fate of Shang kings. 
• The Battle of Mingtiao solidified the Shang dynasty’s establishment under its first king, Cheng Tang. Conversely, the dynasty fell at the Battle of Muye, where the last Shang king, Di Xin, was defeated by Wu of Zhou after his army betrayed him, leading to the rise of the Zhou dynasty, which endured for 800 years.

What kinds of weapons did the Shang army make?

Shang soldiers utilized an array of stone and bronze weapons, including máo (spears), yuè (pole-axes), gē (dagger-axes), bows, and helmets. Toward the end of the Shang dynasty, around 1200 BC, during Wu Ding’s reign, chariots were introduced as a significant military advancement.

Who fought in the Shang armies?

• The Shang king maintained a standing force of approximately 1,000 troops at the capital, personally leading them into battle. Shang armies comprised nobles, town-dwellers, and rural laborers. 
• Nobles and local rulers were responsible for equipping their garrisons with necessary armor, weapons, and supplies. Army sizes varied, ranging from 3,000 to 13,000 soldiers.

What happened at the Battle of Muye?

• At the Battle of Muye, King Wu of Zhou, commanding an army of about 50,000, defeated the last Shang king, Di Xin, who had 170,000 troops stationed in the capital city of Yin. 
• At the battle’s outset, many of Di Xin’s soldiers refused to fight, some holding their spears upside down as a sign of defiance. A portion of these troops defected to Wu’s side, while others remained loyal to Di Xin. 
• Wu’s better-equipped and loyal forces executed a decisive chariot charge, breaking the Shang army. Di Xin fled to his palace, adorned himself with jewels, and set it ablaze, destroying his treasures and taking his own life, marking the end of the Shang dynasty.