Zhou Dynasty

By: Haley HernandezJarrett Sippola

Jim EdgarLauren Turner

Sara CodyWill Gordy

Human EnvironmentInteractions

Shang and Zhou Dynasties coexisted with each other being friendly at times, but warring with them at others

In the mid 11th century fighting broke out between the two for almost three years before the Zhou established their rule over all of China

The original Zhou capital was near present day Xi’an

To support the empire in the east and its other rulers, an eastern capital was built at Luoayong

Empire Because of the large area of the Zhou

dynasty it was split up into territories Territories were walled of cities Each territory had its own lord who was

appointed by inheritance Then in social classes came the fighting

men followed by the peasants and slaves

Zhou was based on agricultural production which was done mostly by the peasants

These territories rebelled and defeated the original Zhou capital but from the east capital they fortified their military and political control over the territories

During this time when the Zhou Dynasty became much stronger was during the Iron Age, bringing improved irrigation techniques in turn bringing greater populations

The Zhou became unstable when it expanded into areas of non-china with the rise of these territories within the Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou Dynasty fell in anarchy and collapsed in the late 5th century

Politics 1122 – 256 B.C.E. Emperor rules by mandate of heaven, the belief that dynasties will rise and

fall according to the will of heaven, or the ancestors Emperor

lived in the forbidden city (away from all others) in full control but bound by duty had few slaves “The Son of Heaven”

Political authority controlled by Confucian values Zhou Philosophy

Concept of heaven emerged Universal force Chose the emperor to rule (moral force) If the emperor was evil, heaven would send natural disasters as a warning. If he

didn’t heed the warnings then heaven would withdraw its mandate. Social and political order would break down and there would be a revolution.

Emperor Wen: founder of the Zhou Dynasty

Culture Technology

Silk from silk worms Iron (instead of bronze) Copper for coins Acupuncture Horseback communication Chariots and mounted cavalry

Architecture Irregular walls of rammed earth for

defense Used earth and timber for many

buildings Some multistory buildings Starting of Chinese bracketing

system Replaced roof tiles with thatch Started using bricks

Science Gan and Shi’s Astronomy Book Mo Jing (physics, MoZi)

Art Silk paintings Murals Musical instruments were still

developing

Economics “Ceremonial Lords of the Kingdoms” Warfare between territories

Lost control of some territories in 700 B.C.E. Legalism - strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence,

to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit. 4th century B.C.E.

Agriculture Peasants planted crops Planted crops in a square and the peasant’s crops would be

planted on the outside and the emperor’s crops were on the inside Zhou society was based on agriculture

Social First dynasty to unite most of

China under a single government

Divided into two parts: Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou

Western Zhou Semi-nomadic clan Peasants

were physically separated from other classes

Key element Had supportive functions

(sewing, reaping, etc.)

Zhou rulers were the nobles with family names, and they practiced ancestor worship

Eastern Zhou

Also known as the E.Z. period

The decline of ancient forms of religion began and the transformation into Confucianism and Daoism started

The uniqueness of China’s recorded history began Collection of documents

Resources http://library.thinkquest.org/12255/library/dynasty/

zhou.html http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/China/Zhou.html http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/

t3w10zhoudynasty.htm www.chinatour360.com http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/114678/Z

hou-dynasty http://library.thinkquest.org/12255/library/dynasty/zho

u.html