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
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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.
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
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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
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Iron tools (hoe and ax)
Used cattle in plowing
Commerce system
Tile and bronze decorations
Developed carriages for faster travel
Zhou Dynasty chart
The Zhou Dynasty
Eastern Zhou Dynasty
Spring and Autumn period
Western Zhou Dynasty
Warring States period
475 to 338 Bc
338 to 288 BC