Download The Zhou:

The Zhou:
China’s Longest Dynasty
According to legend, the last
of the Shang rulers was a
wicked tyrant, and many
Chinese turned against him.
In 1045 B.C., rebels led by an
aristocrat named Wu Wang
overthrew the Shang
government and declared a
new dynasty called the Zhou
(JOH).
Zhou kings ruled much the
same as Shang rulers had.
Take a moment to
remember- how DID
the Shang kings rule?
Soon the Zhou kingdom
was larger than the Shang
had been. This was a huge
area to keep under control,
so the Zhou kings appointed
loyal aristocrats to govern
each of the territories for
him. These positons were
hereditary.
The Zhou people continued to
believe their rulers represented
them before the gods.
They continued to expect their
rulers to carry out religious
ceremonies to please the gods.
And the Zhou kings claimed that
they ruled China
because they had the……………….
…………………………………………………………………………
“Mandate of Heaven”
The “Mandate of Heaven” is the belief that
the Chinese king’s right to rule came from
the gods. The Mandate stated the idea that
the gods chose a wise and good person to
rule. The person chosen by the gods
would govern honestly and well.
(This Mandate was used as a reason the Zhou defeated the
Shang. The Zhou rebels claimed that the Shang weren’t
doing the job the gods wanted them to, so the gods let
them lose!)
The Mandate of Heaven changed what the Zhou people expected from their king:
THE KING MUST RULE BY
THE PROPER WAY (DAO).
HIS DUTY WAS TO HONOR
AND PLEASE THE GODS. IF
THERE WAS A NATURAL
DISASTER OR A BAD
HARVEST, THAT MEANT THE
KING HAD FAILED AND HE
COULD BE REPLACED.
Achievements of the Zhou Dynasty
Development of new
irrigation systems which
led to growing more crops
than ever before
Development of the
saddle and stirrup; the
Zhou warriors could ride
around the battlefield while
throwing spears or shooting
crossbows
Development of iron which
was used in weaponry and
farm tools
Expansion of trade; pieces
of Chinese silk have been
found in central Asia and as
far away as Greece
Over time (here we go again)
the aristocrats who ruled the
territories of the Zhou kingdom
grew more powerful. They ignored
their king’s command and took
control of their own territories. The
aristocrats began to fight one
another for power. These wars
began in the 400s B.C. and went on
for nearly 200 years. Because each
aristocrat formed his own state, this
time in China’s history is called the
“Period of the Warring States.”
Farmers were often forced to
become soldiers for the aristocrats
they served. They were armed with
swords, spears, and crossbows,
and eventually began to ride
horses.
The wars fought at this time
would result in a new dynasty.
Review
• 1. Who was the aristocrat that led the rebels to overthrow
the Shang government?
• 2. How long did the Zhou rule China?
• 3. Why did the Zhou kings divide their kingdom into
smaller territories?
• 4. Explain the Mandate of Heaven and how it changed
what the Zhou people expected from their king.
• 5. Name 3 achievements of the Zhou Dynasty.
• 6. Describe the fall of the Zhou Dynasty.