History glossary
Zhou
the dynasty that overthrew the Shang and introduced the Mandate of Heaven as a central political idea.
- Category
- Dynasty
- Region
- Early China
- Date range
- 1046-256 BCE; Western Zhou to 771 BCE
What it means
The Zhou dynasty began when the Zhou overthrew the Shang in 1046 BCE. Western Zhou kings ruled through regional lords, kinship ties, ritual hierarchy, and bronze inscriptions. After the court moved east in 771 BCE, Zhou kings kept ritual prestige but lost much of their political power.
Related terms
Stories using this term
The Korean War
A Cold War conflict that divided Korea, ending in stalemate and a lasting unresolved border.
Early China
From Neolithic farming villages to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Early China built the writing, bronze culture, and political doctrines that gave Chinese civilisation its enduring character.
The Qing Dynasty
From Manchu conquest to republican revolution, the Qing dynasty built China's largest empire, oversaw centuries of prosperity, and then struggled to survive foreign intervention, rebellion, and the collapse of imperial legitimacy.
The Rise of China
After Mao, China combined market reform with one-party rule, using exports, cities, technology, and nationalism to become one of the world's most powerful states.
