asked 111k views
15 votes
How did shang kings retain their power over such a large population and vast territory?

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User ViSa
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1 Answer

11 votes
I would argue that, on the one hand, it was because of the development of innovative weapons, some of them made of bronze, such as bronze-tipped halberds and spears, the compound bow, and the horse-drawn chariot, which allowed soldiers to move faster and with greater agility, and their leaders to cover greater distances in order to supervise their troops and issue orders - warfare was a more efficient and effective method of conflict resolution. However, they were able to rule a big population and manage a wide region and its natural and material resources effectively thanks to their government's highly stratified structure, which included numerous and specialized roles.
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User Sethmr
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9.3k points
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