Global History I Honors: Spiconardi

The Zhou Dynasty & the Mandate of Heaven

Dynasty EstablishmentThe Zhou overthrow

the Shang and eventually establish to capitalsWestern Capital = XianEastern Capital =

Luoyang

The Zhou (1045-256 BCE)

The Zhou KingServed as the head of a

growing governmentControlled the armiesSeen as an intermediary

between the people and the god Shang TiThe Zhou King made

sacrifices to the god of heaven

If any sacrifices or prayers were missed, great ill was predicted to fall on the kingdom of the neglectful leader

The Zhou (1045-256 BCE)

FeudalismLike the Shang, the Zhou

divided the kingdom into territoriesEach territory was a walled

city King had little to no control

over these walled territoriesEach territory was

governed by appointed noblesNobles had peasants farm

the landTerritories eventually

became more & more independent

The Zhou (1045-256 BCE)

Primogeniture first born inherits all property/possessions of his father

Social Hierarchy Lords Members of the army Artisans and merchants Farmers

Society was based on agricultural production

SlavesVery few in Zhou Dynasty China

The Zhou (1045-256 BCE)

Peasant #1 Peasant #2 Peasant #3

Peasant #4 Peasant #5

Peasant #6 Peasant #7 Peasant #8

Center section was tilled by all peasants for the lord of their

territory

The Warring States period of chaos and fighting among China’s feudal lordsAs each territory became more independent,

the Zhou’s authority became decentralizedThe feudal nobles fought one another and

China was no longer united

The Zhou (1045-256 BCE)

Mandate of Heaven the divine approval to ruleZhou: “Heaven…has sent down ruin on the

Shang. The Shang has lost the Mandate, and we Zhou have received it…I believe the heavens favor those who are sincere in their intentions…The Mandate of Heaven is not easy to gain. It will be lost when men fail to live up to…the virtues of their forefathers.”

The Mandate of Heaven

Dynastic Cycle explanation of the rise, fall, & establishment of dynasties in ChinaChinese believe leadership had to be changed

when problems came about, not laws or institutions

Rulers were seen as sons of heaven and father to the Chinese people

Leaders had to be moral and upright

The Dynastic Cycle

In essence, the Zhou

King had to rule

effectively or the people had a right

to revolution