A Zhou Dynasty bronze tripod
Chariots in Zhou Dynasty China
The Zhou conquered the Shang Dynasty about 1100 BC (the traditional date is 1122 BC). The Zhou said that the reason they were able to conquer the Shang was that Heaven was on their side. According to Chinese stories, backed up in some points by oracle bones, the first really independent king of the Zhou Dynasty was King Wu.
What are oracle bones?
What was the Shang Dynasty like?
A quick summary of Chinese history
According to the stories, King Wu led a big army with chariots down the south bank of the Yellow River. In 1046 BC King Wu crossed the Yellow River and conquered the Shang Dynasty at the Battle of Muye. Many of the Shang soldiers went over to King Wu’s side, because the Shang emperor, Di Xin, was unpopular.
The beginnings of feudalism
Historians call the first period of Zhou rule the Western Zhou, because the capital city, Haojing, was in the west. China was divided up into about 200 little kingdoms, and then each of these kings was under the Zhou emperor. Under each king were lesser lords, who had less power. These lords gave out land to individual farmers. In exchange, the lords collected some of the food as taxes. This system is a kind of feudalism.
How did taxes get started?
Why do people use feudalism?
The Zhou emperors’ strong armies
During the Western Zhou dynasty, the emperors ruled from great walled cities like those of the Shang Dynasty. Western Zhou emperors relied on big strong armies to stay in power. These armies learned from Central Asia how to use a lot of chariots all together to win battles.
The emperors led the armies out on campaigns almost every year, either fighting Central Asian invaders or keeping their kingdom together by preventing revolts. (Compare the Assyrians at the other end of Asia about the same time.)
Assyrians and their military campaigns
Did you find out what you needed to know about the Zhou Dynasty in China? Don’t miss our articles on the Eastern Zhou, Zhou art, and Zhou architecture!
Learn by doing – comparing the Western Zhou to the Assyrians
Eastern Zhou
Zhou Art
Zhou Architecture
Bibliography and further reading about the Zhou Dynasty:
i have a Q… are there, slaves buried in the great wall?
Not as far as I know. That is not a generally approved construction technique. But probably some people did die while they were building the wall, and were buried nearby. The Wall was built gradually, over a long time, not all at once, so it’s hard to know.
i dont like learning but it was good i guess
hi i need help?
Sure, Ezekiel! How can I help?
pretty semi-interesting
love ur site
i have a question, were the people building the great wall concerned with the equipment given or the materials? thanks!
The wall was built in many small bits over a long time, so the way the construction was organized also changed over time. A lot of it was done by local rulers, who organized things however they wanted.
Interesting stuff
Thanks!
This is pretty cool.
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What dynasty had the biggest impact? Meaning, if you removed that dynasty from history China wouldn’t be the same.
Well, I’m sure that is true for all the dynasties! But I’d give the prize to the Shang Dynasty (https://quatr.us/history/shang-dynasty-china-first-chinese-dynasty.htm) because they created the idea of one united China – otherwise China might have ended up as a lot of smaller countries, like Europe. That would have been very different!
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Need help
I’d be happy to help; what’s your question?
Good site
Thanks!
What’s the Great Wall of china made of
Stone fastened together with mortar, mostly. Different parts were built at different times, using somewhat different materials depending on what was available nearby. Some parts are built of brick, or of pounded hard dirt and wood. In many places, it’s actually two facing walls with a small space between them filled with dirt, or whatever was handy to throw in – including the bodies of workers who had died!
Can there be more to read Please!!!!
Sure! What would you like more about? Did you see the links to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Zhou art, and Zhou architecture?
What is the name of the first Chinese dynasty
The Shang Dynasty. You can read about it here: https://quatr.us/history/shang-dynasty-china-first-chinese-dynasty.htm