Bronze Age China
Origins
Bronze Age China
Xia Dynasty (2200-1766)
Centralized political and economic
Brought increase in urbanism and metallurgy and pottery
Great degree of social/ economic heirarchy
Bronze Age China
Shang Dynasty (1766-1122)
1st Chinese culture to use bronze weapons
Rich tradition of bronze vessels
Ancestor worship, grave goods, sacrifices
Moderately politically centralized
Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 BC)
Origins and Rise
From NW China and overthrew Shang who lost the mandate of Heaven
Zhou extended empire massively
Zhou Dynasty
Administration (civil service)
King gave land to those who practiced political loyalty
Bloodlinks weakend
Maintained a large, strong army/ adopted iron weapons by 6th cent.
Moderately decentralized state
Zhou Dynasty
Spring and Autumn Period (772-481)Kings became helpless in face of strong subkings
In 667 Hegemons given formal powers in face of royal weakness
Start of direct taxation
Subkingdoms very centralized even though Zhou Kingdom was decentralized
Zhou Dynasty
Warring States Period (5th cent.-221)
Widespread rebellion and chaos
Centrifugalism led to establishment of independent kingdoms
Violent/ archaic period
Armies became enormous (100k men)
Influenced develop of new philosophies like Confucianism- sought to bring order to state & society
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