1. The Zhou Dynasty & the Mandate of Heaven
Global History I : Adamiak

2. The Zhou (1045-256 BCE) Dynasty Establishment
The Zhou overthrow the Shang and eventually establish to capitals
Western Capital = Xian
Eastern Capital = Luoyang

3. The Zhou (1045-256 BCE) The Zhou King
Served as the head of a growing government
Controlled the armies
Seen as an intermediary between the people and the god Shang Ti
The 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

4. The Zhou (1045-256 BCE) Feudalism
Like the Shang, the Zhou divided the kingdom into territories
Each territory was a walled city
King had little to no control over these walled territories
Each territory was governed by appointed nobles
Nobles had peasants farm the land
Territories eventually became more & more independent
Primogeniture  first born inherits all property/possessions of his father

5. The Zhou (1045-256 BCE) Social Hierarchy Lords Members of the army
Artisans and merchants
Farmers
Society was based on agricultural production
Slaves
Very few in Zhou Dynasty China
Center section was tilled by all peasants for the lord of their territory
Peasant #1
Peasant #2
Peasant #3
Peasant #4
Peasant #5
Peasant #6
Peasant #7
Peasant #8

6. The Zhou ( BCE)
The Warring States  period of chaos and fighting among China’s feudal lords
As each territory became more independent, the Zhou’s authority became decentralized
The feudal nobles fought one another and China was no longer united

7. The Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven  the divine approval to rule
Zhou: “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.”

8. The Dynastic Cycle
Dynastic Cycle  explanation of the rise, fall, & establishment of dynasties in China
Chinese 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
In essence, the Zhou King had to rule effectively or the people had a right to revolution

9. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;...But when a long train of abuses and usurpations...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.