Zhou Dynasty China

1122 – 221 B.C.

The Zhou Dynasty, one of China’s longest-lasting dynasties, is known for its significant cultural and political developments. The Zhou introduced the concept of the “Mandate of Heaven,” which justified the ruler’s authority as divinely ordained. During this period, Chinese society saw advancements in agriculture, philosophy, and technology. Confucianism and Daoism, two influential schools of thought, emerged and shaped Chinese culture for centuries. Although the dynasty eventually weakened, leading to the Warring States period, the Zhou Dynasty laid the foundations for much of Chinese civilization.