Download China packet - SWR Global History

The Zhou (JOH) Dynasty
1027 BC – 256 BC
In 1027 BC, the kingdom of Zhou rebels and overthrows
the Shang Civilization’s rulers.
However, rebellion is an illegal act.
To justify this rebellion, the Zhou invented the concept of
the:
Dynastic Cycle
THE NEW DYNASTY
AGING DYNASTY
-Brings peace
-Taxes too much
-Builds roads and canals
Several
generations
-Stops protecting people
-Neglects government
duties
-Gives land to peasants
-Protects people
-Becomes corrupt
Problems
New
Dynasty
overthrows
old dynasty
and claims
the Mandate
of Heaven
-Natural
disasters
-Peasant
revolts
Aging Dynasty
loses the
Mandate of
Heaven
-Invaders
attack
-lawlessness
• The Mandate of Heaven is the concept that the gods choose
whom they want to rule the country.
• In general, peace and prosperity in the kingdom was seen as a
sign that the gods still backed your rule.
•Floods, famine and other catastrophes were signs that the dynasty
had lost the Mandate of Heaven.
• Future dynasties will use it as a convenient excuse to justify their
rebellions.
Zhou Government
To maintain their power, the Zhou rulers would give large
pieces of land to wealthy families that supported them.
This can be seen as a type of feudalism
Feudalism
Theme: Political Systems and citizenship
A system of government where a single ruler, usually a king,
give land and local control of government to people in
exchange for loyalty.
Example: Zhou Dynasty, China; Middle Ages, Europe,
Feudal Japan
In theory, Zhou government looks like this:
Son of Heaven
(Zhou King)
Lord
Lord
Lord
Peasants
Peasants
Peasants
Zhou Achievements:
• See packet.
Zhou Dynasty & The Warring States Period
-The Fall of the Zhou
The Warring States Period lasts from 480-222BC
Technically, it is still the Zhou Dynasty, BUT, by this time, the
kings of Zhou have lost all their power and are now just one
more state competing for power.
Hundreds of small states begin to war with each other for control
of China
Bigger states conquer and absorb smaller states
China is engulfed in constant civil war
The state of Zhou, while powerful, is a constant target for many of
the other states.
Eventually, the state of Zhou will be defeated.
By conquering each other, the many states are reduced to a small
few.
In the end, one state, Qin (CHIN), triumphs over all the others
and unifies China for the first time.
However, the period of Warring States was also a time of deep
intellectual thought as many different philosophers tried to
develop solutions to end the chaos that had engulfed all of
China.