Weapons in Late Shang (c.1250-1050 BCE) China: Beyond Typology and Ritual explores the large quantities of bronze and jade weapons, such as dagger-axes, spears and arrows, found at the World Heritage site of Yinxu, the late Shang capital located near today’s Anyang city in central China. Qin Cao’s innovative research presents new insights into these weapons, moving beyond perceptions of them being primarily symbols of power and rank. Through the lens of weapons, this book argues for the significance of martial prowess and leadership within late Shang society. The author considers Shang weapons from an object biographical perspective, tracing their life histories for the first time. This book synthesises archaeological data, scientific analyses, and inscriptions on oracle bones and bronzes, uncovering a more nuanced understanding of the complex roles weapons played in society. What traces of evidence can be detected on weapons that demonstrate their ability to cause bodily harm? Why were tens of thousands of weapons placed in tombs? What led to certain individuals, including high-ranking royal females, being buried with weapons? This book will be of interest to academics, students (both undergraduates and postgraduates), and researchers in archaeology, particularly those focused on China, East Asia, or comparative studies, as well as a more general readership in Chinese archaeology.

This book examines the rise of the iron industry during the Warring States and Western Han periods (ca. 400 BCE–9 CE) in ancient China, which is characterized not only by various technological innovations but also as a remarkable phenomenon, leading to the widespread distribution of iron implements and the emergence of massive ironworks that were rarely seen in later periods. With Connectivity, Imperialism, and the Han Iron Industry, Lam Wengcheong combines archaeological and historical analyses to piece together fragmentary evidence and to refocus our gaze onto the economic and political mechanism that gave birth to an iron industry unique in the ancient world. Guiding readers through the macroscopic social settings of the iron industry and distribution patterns of iron implements to the microscopic organization of workplace and workers’ foodways, Lam explores how iron production and transportation processes intersected with the transformation of the Han capital region in the Guanzhong basin. Using various lines of evidence of iron production in Guanzhong and its connection with other production centers, this book shows how the production and transportation of iron at various scales played a significant role in generating the "connectivity" between various parts of the Western Han empire, and casts new light on the workings of the economic system in imperial China. Connectivity, Imperialism, and the Han Iron Industry will appeal to anyone interested in Chinese archaeology, the history of the Han empire, and the history of science and engineering in ancient China, as well as to scholars working on the comparative study of ancient imperialism, market exchange, and economic history.

The domestication of the horse was one of the most significant events in the development of many human societies, ushering in new modes of transport and warfare and generating social and political change. This volume examines the origins of horse husbandry and pastoralism - especially nomadic pastoralism - in the Eurasian steppe. It brings together archaeologists and archaeozoologists from Asia, Europe and North America ito provide a wide-ranging overview of issues and evidence for the development of Central European societies from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. Much of the material is here made available in English for the first time. The issues surrounding the domestication of the horse are set firmly within the broader context of steppe ecology and human subsistence, and with the development of pastoral economies across this crucial geographical zone.

The entire course of history is revisited in this unique and unforgettable visual guide. The most memorable moments and significant events of each year are charted in a definitive timeline that runs throughout the book. From the ancient origins of our earliest African ancestors right up to our modern world today, Timelines of History includes a diverse range of people, cultures, and countries. Ideas, inventions, and innovations come together to provide a truly global view of history. ?? Dramatic photography, eye-catching maps, and supporting graphics bring history to life as never before. The instantly accessible, multi-layered timeline enables you to move effortlessly through the ages. This essential reference strikes a balance between being completely comprehensive, but also ideal for browsing, thanks to the organized structure, chronological order, and bitesize information.?? This celebratory compendium makes an outstanding addition to any family library, enabling you to dip into the past any time you like.

A-Z organised Entries are written by an international team of 127 experts in the field Includes 29 b+w illustrations including 23 half-tones Contains cross references, suggestions for further reading and a comprehensive index

Crafting Culturally Efficacious Pedagogies and Practices is based on cultural efficaciousness derived from the work of the nationally recognized Academy for Teacher Excellence at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The book is grounded in a research-based model, situated within the needs of the school-local community, and based on collaborative partnerships. Given the under-representation of ethnic/racial minority teachers, to accomplish social justice, all teachers must become culturally efficacious. In this book, authors provide an overview of the culturally efficacious evolution model used to anchor teacher preparation and present the culturally efficacious observation protocol as a tool to assess teachers’ development. The authors present four exemplar case studies of culturally efficacious teachers who have a strong identity, a positive teaching cultural efficacy, are critical reflective thinkers, and believe that they can make difference in minority students’ lives. As culturally efficacious teachers, these educators are also committed to social justice and equitable education. Cross-case findings reveal that the critical teacher development model serves as a culturally sustainable pedagogy that effectively prepares teachers in the field.

One of the great breakthroughs in Chinese studies in the early twentieth century was the archaeological identification of the earliest, fully historical dynasty of kings, the Shang (ca. 1300-1050 B.C.E.). The last fifty years have seen major advances in all areas of Chinese archaeology, but recent studies of the Shang, their ancestors, and their contemporaries have been especially rich. Since the last English-language overview of Shang civilization appeared in 1980, the pace of discovery has quickened. China in the Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization is the first work in twenty-five years to synthesize current knowledge of the Shang for everyone interested in the origins of Chinese civilization. China in the Early Bronze Age traces the development of early Bronze Age cultures in North and Northwestern China from about 2000 B.C.E., including the Erlitou culture (often identified with the Xia) and the Erligang culture. Robert L. Thorp introduces major sites, their architectural remains, burials, and material culture, with special attention to jades and bronze. He reviews the many discoveries near Anyang, site of two capitals of the Shang kings. In addition to the topography of these sites, Thorp discusses elite crafts and devotes a chapter to the Shang cult, its divination practices, and its rituals. The volume concludes with a survey of the late Shang world, cultures contemporary with Anyang during the late second millennium B.C.E. Fully documented with references to Chinese archaeological sources and illustrated with more than one hundred line drawings, China in the Early Bronze Age also includes informative sidebars on related topics and suggested readings. Students of the history and archaeology of early civilizations will find China in the Early Bronze Age the most up-to-date and wide-ranging introduction to its topic now in print. Scholars in Chinese studies will use this work as a handbook and research guide. This volume makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the formative stages of Chinese culture.