Zhou+Dynasty



The Zhou Dynasty was formally recognized from 1100 B.C.E. to 221 B.C.E. The Zhou Dynasty conquered the Shang Dynasty in 1122 B.C.E by overthrowing their rule and government. Before the Zhou over threw the Shang Dynasty, these two Dynasty's were allies, though the Zhou contained more. The Shang ruler was sucked into many things that steered him away from ruling. These included: Wine, women, tyranny and greed. As allies of the Shang, the Zhou saw this to their disadvantage, later proceeding to over throw the ruler. The collapse of the Zhou was brought to an end by the nomadic peoples from West China.

Political: To be a higher figure in politics, you had to have a Mandate from Heaven. This means that you had a godly being say you could be leader. If this person did this in a respectable manner, the God's would be happy as a result. Likewise, if the person failed, chaos and suffering would be upon his rule. Rulers of the Zhou Dynasty took the name "Son of Heaven." The Zhou pushed their name to make them as a powerful and authoritative Dynasty. The Dynasty created regional bureaucracies, armies, and tax systems to maintain their power across East Asia.

Economic: Although there is very little information about commerce and merchants in this period, The Dynasty started testing the use of iron. The study of Metallurgy helped because they manufactured swords. They made swords not just out of Iron itself, but infused with bronze to make it a stronger material. Most swords were used for personal usage, not to trade or sell. Ship building gave a great amount of revenue to the Dynasty as well.

Religious: They believed that theory of politics were closely affiliated to "heavenly affairs." The Zhou believed that the Heavens, Sun, Moon, Stars, plants and ancestors were the most powerful beings in their society.

Social: The Zhou Dynasty had a desending class order as similar to the cast system in modern day India. The highest were the Nobles or Zhuhou. The second were the gentry or Qing, following them were the gentleman or Daifu. The fourth were the yeoman or Shi, while lastly were the commoners or Shumin. The women of the Dynasty were treated very poorly and always came after men, referred to as Patriarchal society.

Intellectual / Artistic: The Zhou made writings that still serve a purpose in todays literature because some of them are seen in textbooks today. One example of a book is called The Book of Changes. This book was written to predict the happenings of the future. Other books taught the people of the Zhou how to be polite and courteous to others. The Zhou also had somewhat of an alphabet or a script.