The Zhou Dynasty
Introduction
At about the year of 1050 B.C., an organization called the Zhou, conquered the Shang kingdom, from the west. They were successful, and overthrew the Shang King. They then established a new dynasty, called the Zhou dynasty. It ruled for almost a good 800 years. However, some of their experience with ruling was difficult. They found out it was pretty challenging to keep the kingdom united.
Important people
An important person in this dynasty was King Wu. He was the first person to rule the Zhou dynasty. Another important person in the Zhou dynasty was Confucius. He was one of the most important philosophers in China. His goal was to teach his followers how to be wise, kind, and overall a good person. He wanted everyone to try his advice. Confucius also believed that two ways to teach were through rituals, and education methods. One last important person was Laozi. He was a legend, but people say that he was the man that created Daoism. He was known as a "Sage."(in other words a very smart person)
Society
The Zhou did much of what the Shangs did. They followed the same laws, they wore similar clothing, and they spoke the same language. They also sold and produced great bronze work.(there was a rivalry between the Shangs and the Zhou with their metal work) However, the Zhou dynasty left out some things. They stopped practicing human sacrifice, and did not not use the oracle bones. The Zhou dynasty built a system of roads, which made travel and trade more efficient. This caused the population to increase. The Chinese ancestors put a big value on families. They ordered that all individuals have to be loyal towards their family. Older members of the family held more power and allowance, than other members of the family. Like in almost all societies, men held more power and value then women. During this time in the dynasty, there were lots of improvements and advances in the technology areas. These types of innovations, helped the Zhou economy to grow. The dynasty was filled with a positive, inspirational, and creative energy. People encouraged poets, writers, and artists. The dynasty was ruled by kings, just like the Shang dynasty. The kings ruled at the center of the Zhou government. But, the Zhou gave more power to people who led them, like the nobles. The nobles job was to grant the King's needs, and also to raise the armies who fought for them. Most people in the Zhou dynasty where peasants. Their responsibility was to maintain the farmland, and to serve the battling soldiers. There were also artisans, merchants, and slaves in the society. A lot of people were sold into slavery, when the families were having difficulties. Slavery was considered a big punishment.
Government
The Zhou expanded their territory through conquest. Their land reached all the way to the Chang River. The Zhou had a huge kingdom, and it withheld many different cultures. To keep the kingdom under control, the Zhou king granted the permission for family members to rule regions, or even states. The power of the Zhou king decreased. This was because a group of nobles and invaders tried to overthrow the king. This caused lots of states that were once apart of the kingdom, to become independent. Fighting went back-to-back with the Warlords. The Warlords used to be very loyal to the kings, but sometimes they wanted their own power too.
Warring States Period
Small and not major wars started to occur. Of course, no one was really concerned about the activity because the situations weren't really bad. But soon, these unimportant wars developed and became a warfare. China was now in a period of complete chaos. This time was known as the "Warring States Period." It was all a bloody mess. Lots of people who were fighting in the wars, never made it back. Battles were everywhere. Many of the kingdoms weakened, and some even disappeared. The fighting continued for years, this did not help China grow.
Religious practices
Ancient China had a unique culture and religion. Religious practices and rituals became connected to philosophies. The Zhou people worshiped certain gods and they performed certain rituals, like lighting firecrackers to keep the bad spirits away. The Chinese saw heaven as the birthplace of the sun, stars, moon, and even storms. They believed that they should always honor their ancestors. For it was a sign of respect. They also thought that if they honored and cared for their ancestors, the ancestors would protect and guide them. One of their developed religions were Confucianism. Confucianism is the teachings and studies, of one of the most greatest philosophers in Ancient China, his name was Confucius. He lived before the Warring States period began. Along with the other thinkers in China, he tried to solve the problems that were occurring. He was given the name the"First Teacher," because of his great wisdom. Confucius believed that the disorder occurred, because the Chinese people abandoned the original roles and rituals of the early Zhou dynasty. He then decided to dedicate his life for teaching people about the smart ways of their ancestors. To share more about his ideas and thoughts, he created his own school. He even wrote a book called the"Analects." The main idea of Confucianism was based in a stable. This meaning there were five relationships.
1. "Ruler and subject"
2."Father and son"
3. "Husband and wife"
4. "Older and younger brothers"
5. "Two friends"
One last religion was Daoism. Daoism was an Ancient Chinese phase of life. The Chinese visualized this as a natural and basic existence.
Important achievements
The Zhou dynasty achieved a lot in the 800 years they were around. They wrote history books, they excelled in their bronze work, they had a strong government, they had a structured society, they set up their own capital cities, they created more effective farm tools, they created a strong fertilizer for crops, they built a complex system of roads, they used coins, they wrote poems, they invented the crossbow, they improved on the material bronze, they created iron, and they came with better education/learning plans.
Introduction
At about the year of 1050 B.C., an organization called the Zhou, conquered the Shang kingdom, from the west. They were successful, and overthrew the Shang King. They then established a new dynasty, called the Zhou dynasty. It ruled for almost a good 800 years. However, some of their experience with ruling was difficult. They found out it was pretty challenging to keep the kingdom united.
Important people
An important person in this dynasty was King Wu. He was the first person to rule the Zhou dynasty. Another important person in the Zhou dynasty was Confucius. He was one of the most important philosophers in China. His goal was to teach his followers how to be wise, kind, and overall a good person. He wanted everyone to try his advice. Confucius also believed that two ways to teach were through rituals, and education methods. One last important person was Laozi. He was a legend, but people say that he was the man that created Daoism. He was known as a "Sage."(in other words a very smart person)
Society
The Zhou did much of what the Shangs did. They followed the same laws, they wore similar clothing, and they spoke the same language. They also sold and produced great bronze work.(there was a rivalry between the Shangs and the Zhou with their metal work) However, the Zhou dynasty left out some things. They stopped practicing human sacrifice, and did not not use the oracle bones. The Zhou dynasty built a system of roads, which made travel and trade more efficient. This caused the population to increase. The Chinese ancestors put a big value on families. They ordered that all individuals have to be loyal towards their family. Older members of the family held more power and allowance, than other members of the family. Like in almost all societies, men held more power and value then women. During this time in the dynasty, there were lots of improvements and advances in the technology areas. These types of innovations, helped the Zhou economy to grow. The dynasty was filled with a positive, inspirational, and creative energy. People encouraged poets, writers, and artists. The dynasty was ruled by kings, just like the Shang dynasty. The kings ruled at the center of the Zhou government. But, the Zhou gave more power to people who led them, like the nobles. The nobles job was to grant the King's needs, and also to raise the armies who fought for them. Most people in the Zhou dynasty where peasants. Their responsibility was to maintain the farmland, and to serve the battling soldiers. There were also artisans, merchants, and slaves in the society. A lot of people were sold into slavery, when the families were having difficulties. Slavery was considered a big punishment.
Government
The Zhou expanded their territory through conquest. Their land reached all the way to the Chang River. The Zhou had a huge kingdom, and it withheld many different cultures. To keep the kingdom under control, the Zhou king granted the permission for family members to rule regions, or even states. The power of the Zhou king decreased. This was because a group of nobles and invaders tried to overthrow the king. This caused lots of states that were once apart of the kingdom, to become independent. Fighting went back-to-back with the Warlords. The Warlords used to be very loyal to the kings, but sometimes they wanted their own power too.
Warring States Period
Small and not major wars started to occur. Of course, no one was really concerned about the activity because the situations weren't really bad. But soon, these unimportant wars developed and became a warfare. China was now in a period of complete chaos. This time was known as the "Warring States Period." It was all a bloody mess. Lots of people who were fighting in the wars, never made it back. Battles were everywhere. Many of the kingdoms weakened, and some even disappeared. The fighting continued for years, this did not help China grow.
Religious practices
Ancient China had a unique culture and religion. Religious practices and rituals became connected to philosophies. The Zhou people worshiped certain gods and they performed certain rituals, like lighting firecrackers to keep the bad spirits away. The Chinese saw heaven as the birthplace of the sun, stars, moon, and even storms. They believed that they should always honor their ancestors. For it was a sign of respect. They also thought that if they honored and cared for their ancestors, the ancestors would protect and guide them. One of their developed religions were Confucianism. Confucianism is the teachings and studies, of one of the most greatest philosophers in Ancient China, his name was Confucius. He lived before the Warring States period began. Along with the other thinkers in China, he tried to solve the problems that were occurring. He was given the name the"First Teacher," because of his great wisdom. Confucius believed that the disorder occurred, because the Chinese people abandoned the original roles and rituals of the early Zhou dynasty. He then decided to dedicate his life for teaching people about the smart ways of their ancestors. To share more about his ideas and thoughts, he created his own school. He even wrote a book called the"Analects." The main idea of Confucianism was based in a stable. This meaning there were five relationships.
1. "Ruler and subject"
2."Father and son"
3. "Husband and wife"
4. "Older and younger brothers"
5. "Two friends"
One last religion was Daoism. Daoism was an Ancient Chinese phase of life. The Chinese visualized this as a natural and basic existence.
Important achievements
The Zhou dynasty achieved a lot in the 800 years they were around. They wrote history books, they excelled in their bronze work, they had a strong government, they had a structured society, they set up their own capital cities, they created more effective farm tools, they created a strong fertilizer for crops, they built a complex system of roads, they used coins, they wrote poems, they invented the crossbow, they improved on the material bronze, they created iron, and they came with better education/learning plans.