Religion & Philosophy

A. In a country like Singapore which is multi-religious, what are the possible challenges we might face? How can we overcome these challenges?

Challenges :

• Racial riots might occur if the mutli-religious issues are not managed delicately.
• Group think.
• Economic growth and development.
• Types of policies made and the political landscape.

How to Overcome Such Challenges:

• People need to exercise tolerance of the similarities and differences of the different religions.
• Different religious groups need to learn to respect each other's religion. They need to accomodate one another, make practical compromises so that all can live harmoniously together in a uniquely Singapore way.
• Government needs balance the festivities of all religions so as to ensure religious harmony.
• Equal opportunities for all, regardless of race & religion eg, in the areas of job opportunities, schooling, places of worship.

B. How was religions and philosophies important to the people of the ancient civilisations?

• During the ancient times, religion played an importnant part in the lives of the people.
• They worshipped many different types of Gods.
• This was because they could not understand or control the things that are happening around them and sough a source of spiritual comfort in the unknown.
• Religion provided hope that the people of ancient times could not get from other avenues. Eg. the infertile women pray to their Gods
• They believed that through their worship they could control nature. Most worshipped nature and fertility as these were the important elements in ancient times. Good weather for their crops and fertility for passing on of generations and inheritance.
• Reincarnation is the cnetral belief of Hindusim,
• The Hindus believe that there is life after death. They believed that after one's death, he will be reborn in his next life. The Hindu believe that it is karma that decides the status of a person's next life. Karma is the sum of all the good and evil that one has done in one's life. Thus the Hindus believe in helping and doing good deeds.
• Buddhism also teaches one to be good, respectful and compassionate. Buddhists are taught to value even the lowest life forms as well as to give and receive freely.
• Most religions teach one to be good. In religions, the people of ancient times place their hopes and aspirations.

How similar or different are their systems with Singapore’s?

Similarities: Have government, uses legalism and have a leaderDifferences: The 3 ancient civilisations were ruled by kings or emperor while Singapore is led by President or the Prime Minister. Singapore people have the rights to choose their own jobs but the people in the 3 ancient civilisations have to take the job determined by the centralised rule.

what were the differences between the government and society of the ancient civilisations

Government: Method of selecting civil servants-Ancient China chose their civil servants based on abilities (meritocracy), while ancient India determined civil servants based on Caste while ancient Southeast Asia determined civil servants based on their wealth.Society: Name of centralised rule-Ancient China uses Class System, ancient India uses Caste System and ancient Southeast Asia uses Basic Classes.Number of concentric circles-Ancient China had 2(Capital and Provinces), ancient India had 4(Capital, Inner Provinces, Outer Provinces and Border zone) and ancient Southeast Asia had 3 (Capital, Provinces and Vassal states).

what were the similarities between the government and society of the 3 ancient civilisations

Government: Divine Kingship-People in ancient India believed that god gave the kings the right to rule. People in ancient China believed that the heaven wanted people to be ruled wisely and justly (Mandate of Heaven).Kings of ancient Southeast Asia saw themselves as divine rulers.The kings ruled at the capital cities-The king's palace was located at the capital city in ancient India. The king in ancient China only controlled a small area around his capital. The capital city was directly ruled a sultan (Malay word for king).Society: Centralised rule-Ancient India separate their people from Class System (Varnas) into Caste System (Jatis).Ancient China separate their people by Class System. Ancient Southeast Asia separates their people by Basic Classes.

The Shang Dynasty (Chinese: 商朝) - A History Project

The Shang Dynasty
(1523 BC - 1027 BC)

The Shang Dynasty arose to become the most powerful kingdom in Northern China. Its capital was set up in Anyang, a city near the Yellow River. Chinese history is said to begin with the rise to power of the Shang clans and the eventual establishment of the Shang dynasty.

Important Factors Leading to the Rise of the Shang Dynasty

1. Location

• Civiliastion was located in the fertile Yellow River Valley. The fertile soil was suitable for farming.


• The river overflowed yearly and floods were common. The Chinese lived by the river as they had learnt to control floods and transport water to irrigate their fields. They built dykes and irrigation canals to rign water to their fields.


• The Shang people were mostly farmers and traders.

2. City Planning

• The Shang king lived in the capital city, a city that is surrounded by a smaller cities and villages. He had great power. He was believed to have the mandate to rule from heaven because he was the son of the Heavenly god. He ruled the empire with the help of his officials.


• Thick walls protected the dwellers in the city from enemy attacks. A citadel was built with a large fort to shelter people from attacks on the city.


• The cities were well planned, with a system of streets and separate areas for workers and rulers.


• Temples and storage houses for food - a granary, were built at the capital. The granary store grains like wheat, barley and oat.


• Overall, the cities were well run.

3. Stable Government

• The Shang king had great power. He was believed to have the mandate to rule from heaven because he was the son of the Heavenly god.


• The Shang had a strong central government. The Shang ruler divided his kingdom into areas. These were ruled by the Lords. Lords were executed if they did not rule as the Shang king wanted or their power could be removed.


• The Shang built an organised society. The common people had to work on the king's building projects or fight as soldiers in the king's army.


• Every year, the Shang people had to give a part of their harvest to the king or to his officials (called "tax").

4. Trade and Economy

• Majority of the Shang people were farmers. They grew millet, barley, wheat, rice and hemp.


• They also kept domesticated animals.


• The Shang were also skilled craftsmen who were good at bronze casting, pottery making and silk making.


• Silk is one of the four greatest inventions of China. The Shang farmers reared silkworms on farms. The silk was then traded with other traders from other parts of India, Mesopotamia and Egypt.


• Trading networks were also established in the Northern and Central China. The networks of trade brought to China commodities like jade and ivory.


• The Shang used cowrie shells as a form of money for trade. Cowrie shalls were the first established form of money in ancient China.

5. Writing

• The Shang writing system had more than 3000 characters.
• The Shang were the first known people among the Chinese to draw pictographs to represent objects.


• They are called pictographic writing and pictogrames.


• Shang writing can be seen on bronze vessels and oracle bones.


• The pictograms later developed into the Chinese charaters that are used today.

6. Art and Culture

• The Shang Dynasty was also known as the Bronze Age of China.


• The Shang people were skilled craftsmen in bronze casting. Advanced technologies were then used to make weapons, , wine cups and jars.


• The Shang people also develoed a calendar called the lunar calendar. Today, many Chinese still follow the lunar calendar.

Factors Leading to the Downfall of the Shang Dynasty

• The Shang dynasty ended aroung 1500 BC.


• It ended due to constant wars that the Shang kings fought.


• The last Shang king was a cruel ruler. He led his army against the people in the Shangtung province in the east.


• This attack, though successful, weakened the Shang army.


• The neighbouring state of Zhou wuickly seized the chance to attack the Shang.


• The Zhous defeated the Shang and established the Western Zhou Dynasty.