Shang Civilization
The Shang Civilization is one of the earliest recorded Chinese civilizations. It existed around 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE in the Yellow River Valley. The Shang people built walled cities and were skilled in bronze work. They made bronze weapons, tools, and ritual vessels, which showed their technological advancement.
The Shang kings ruled through a strong central government and had a class system. They believed in many gods and practiced ancestor worship. The Shang also used oracle bones to predict the future. These were animal bones with questions written on them. Priests would heat the bones until they cracked and then read the cracks to understand the answers from the gods.
Writing developed during the Shang period. The characters used on oracle bones are the roots of modern Chinese writing. The Shang economy was based on agriculture, especially millet and rice farming, as well as animal domestication. Their society was hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by nobles, artisans, farmers, and slaves.
The Shang Civilization ended when it was defeated by the Zhou Dynasty around 1046 BCE. Still, it left a strong cultural legacy that influenced Chinese history.
The Umayyad Caliphate
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second Islamic caliphate after the death of Prophet Muhammad. It ruled from 661 CE to 750 CE and had its capital in Damascus, Syria. The Umayyads expanded the Islamic Empire to include parts of Spain, North Africa, and Central Asia. This made it one of the largest empires in history at that time.
The Umayyads are known for building a strong administrative system. They used Arabic as the official language and introduced a common currency. This helped unify the vast empire. The Umayyads built many beautiful mosques and buildings, like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Their rule helped spread Islam and Arabic culture across three continents.
However, the Umayyads were criticized for favoring Arab Muslims over non-Arab Muslims. This created tension and led to rebellion. In 750 CE, the Abbasids overthrew the Umayyads and took control of the empire. A few Umayyad members escaped to Spain and formed the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba.
Despite their fall, the Umayyads left behind a strong legacy in architecture, culture, and administration that influenced Islamic civilization for centuries.