Question

A Shang lineage was a group of relatives who all descended from a shared ancestor. The Shang royal family belonged to one lineage. Aristocrats, craftsmen, and some farmers in ancient China also belonged to lineages. People in the same lineage had the same last name and lived in the same area. Archaeologists estimate that 150 lineages lived in the Shang capital city of Yinxu (YIN-shoo) at any given time. Each lineage had between 100 and 200 members. Based on these estimates, about how many people lived in the Shang capital?

Answer 1

By multiplying the estimated number of lineages in Yinxu by the average number of members per lineage, we can estimate the Shang capital had a population between 15,000 and 30,000 people.

Step-by-step explanation:

Each Shang lineage in the capital city of Yinxu consisted of approximately 100 to 200 members. With an estimated 150 lineages living there, we can calculate the approximate population of Yinxu by multiplying the number of lineages by the average number of people per lineage. To get a more accurate estimate, we should consider the range provided, so we calculate for both the minimum and maximum possible numbers.

On the low end, if each lineage had 100 members, the calculation would be:

• 150 lineages x 100 members = 15,000 people

On the high end, if each lineage had 200 members, the calculation would be:

• 150 lineages x 200 members = 30,000 people

Therefore, the estimated population of the Shang capital city of Yinxu would have been between 15,000 and 30,000 people.