The Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism

1. The Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism By: Grace Weatherbee and Jordyn Busby

2. Key points • Zhou dynasty was the longest dynasty in history. • Zhou dynasty was split into different time periods • Zhou dynasty had many achievements including agriculture, science, and astronomy. • Feudalism had a cast system • Religon is a big part of feudalism. • Feudalism had many reform movements

3. Zhou Dynasty early history • Longest dynasty in world history • Founders were King Wen and Wu • The Zhou Dynasty grew after the Shang Dynasty was conquered by King Wen. • Expanded into the Wei river in Shaanxi and the Yellow river valley. • The Zhou dynasty was split into the Western and Eastern Zhou dynasty.

4. Western Zhou Dynasty • Had 13 emperors • 11th century to 711 BC • Capital was in Haojing • Wenwang was the first king. • Lands were distributed to different relatives of Wenwang. • Later on when King Li was ruling, the country went into chaos. • Eventually, the people overthrew King Li • When King You was in power, the Western Zhou Dynasty ended.

5. Western Zhou Dynasty Achievements • Successful agriculture • New tools made out of bronze • Furrowing the soil was advanced • Their main products were millet, wheat, rice, and fruit. • Had slaves to do farming • Beautiful architecture • Made weapons out of metal

6. Eastern Zhou Dynasty • 770 BC to 221 BC • After Western Zhou dynasty • Capital was in Luoyi • 25 emperors • First emperor was Xuan Jiu • Huge changes • Devided into two time periods called the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring Statesperiod.

7. Spring and Autumn period • Was named after the Spring and Autumn Annals by Confucius. • Had over 140 states to begin with • Larger states annexed weaker ones • The remaining 5 states were called ‘the 5 overlords in the Spring and Autumn period’. • The 5 overlords were Huangong, Xiangong, Wengong, Mugong, and Zhuangwang. • There were over 480 wars, 52 vassal states were destroyed, and 36 kings were killed.

8. Warring States period • New traditions were established. • They also annexed smaller states • Had ‘seven overlords in the Warring States period’. • The seven overlords were Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin. • The Warring States period was also divided into two different time periods.

9. First : 475 to 338 BC • Had political reforms • Every state was required to do a reform • Famous reforms of this time was Shang Yang’s reform in Qin, Wu Qi’s reform in Chu, and Li Kui’s reform in Wei • With the political reforms, the economy developed quickly.

10. Second : 338 to 288 BC • Many conflicts because Qin claimed land in the west and Qi claimed land in the East. • This time period was very short and not many things happened. • 6 states were annexed out of the 221 states, and this unified China. • This was the end of the Warring States period.

11. Eastern Zhou Achievements • Developed Confucianism • Wrote important doctrines • Agriculture • Iron tools (hoe and ax) • Used cattle in plowing • Commerce system • Tile and bronze decorations • Developed carriages for faster travel

12. Zhou Dynasty chart