Western Chou
The Western Zhou, lasting from about 1027 BCE to 771 BCE,is the first sub period of the Zhou Dynasty and the first period after the violent Shang dynasty. With its capital at Hao, this sub period had a Feudalist government, meaning that the king will give land and territories the size of cities to lords in exchange for their allegiance and services. Through conquest and colonization,the Zhou dynasty managed to spread through a great amount of land north of the Chang Jiang River. This is also the first period where philosophers actually define the doctrine of the "mandate of heaven", which says that the ruler governs by divine right and if he fails to successfully rule, he would lose the mandate of heaven, as well as give specific examples of kings who did or did not have the mandate of heaven. The Western Zhou period ended when the king lost control of the territories given to the supposedly faithful lords. The territories and other rebel forces defeated the Western Zhou capital in 771 BCE. [2]
For more information: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/zhou/western/
References:
- ↑ "Western Zhou Dynasty." Chinatown Connection. Houston Chinatown, 2005. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
- ↑ Beniretto, Rosie, and Clay Elliot comps. Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations. Vol. 2. Houston: St. John's School, 2013. 187-88. Print
Annie Ren
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