China

Religion

Family was central in early Chinese society. You’ll learn more about religions and philosophies in the Religion Unit of this Ancient World History. Eventually Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism would take hold in the country, but during this era ancestor worship was important to the people of the dynasty. The Shang Chinese believed that the spirits of their ancestors were always watching them and would favor them with rewards or bring disaster depending on whether they were happy with them or not.