Most Influential Periods: The Zhou Dynasty

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Importance The Zhou Dynasty, one of China's most influential periods, spanned from 1050-221 BCE with a total of 37 different leaders, making it one of the longest-running dynasties ever. The Zhou dynasty had a huge impact on China as it gave them its historical and cultural characteristics that gave China its identity for the next two millennia, but what made them stand out the most was their feudal system. The feudal system that the Zhou dynasty created helped them stabilize, organize society, and resolve internal conflict between rulers and lords. How the feudal system works is by giving power to regional lords instead of central rulers. The ruler of the Zhou dynasty would grant titles to lords who swore in loyalty, and what the lords had to do was rule over their territory, provide military support, and collect taxes. They also had ‘vassals’ under the rulers who were titled Central Rulers. They would …show more content…

The Eastern Zhou was mainly known for being really political at the time and for being at war about turf and political control. The Eastern Zhou started in 771-221 BC. Besides the war part, it was also a good time for philosophical development with people like Confucius during the time. In thought of past battles, eastern Zhou started to become more iron dominant as moving into the iron age in China, this gave Eastern China a head start in terms of iron mining and resource storage. Which left a notable impact on the agriculture set, making copper a high value currency in later years and boosting the population in Eastern China, Overall the Eastern Zhou dynasty was a political time and played a crucial part in shaping the political system at the time. However, this advantage that the Zhou dynasty had wasn't enough as in 256 BCE they were overthrown once again by the Qin