The Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism

By: Grace Weatherbee and Jordyn Busby

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

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.

Western Zhou Dynasty

• Had 13 emperors • 11 th 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.

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

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 States period .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Zhou Dynasty chart

Eastern Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn period Warring States period 475 to 338 Bc 338 to 288 BC The Zhou Dynasty Western Zhou Dynasty