Zhou Dynasty Essay

Journal Entry One:

The geography of ancient China, or more specifically, the Zhou dynasty, had a great impact on its residents. It varied greatly, from highs to lows in temperature, elevation, and rainfall. The northern border of the Zhou dynasty was marked by the Gobi desert. To the west, the massive expanse of the Himalaya mountains spread out across China. In the east, they were met with the Yellow Sea, or the Huanghai Sea, which provided a way to initiate trade routes across the waters. The southern border roughly followed the path of the Chang Jiang River, though the Chang Jiang wasn’t the only river to be part of the Zhou Dynasty. The Yellow, Wei, Yangtze, Han, and Huai also stretched across the territory. When I first began my research, I thought that most of ancient China’s landscape was the same. I assumed that it was covered with rolling hills and
The Zhou hold the record for the longest-reigning dynasty. After defeating the Shang, they ruled for over seven centuries. During the Zhou dynasty, the importance of family and social order was stressed, and many new philosophical traditions were started. These traditions included Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism. The end of the Zhou is often remembered for its feudal disorder. Throughout my research, I’ve discovered that the history of the Zhou dynasty is mostly based on on societal changes. These changes put in place values that are still common today, such the different relationships one has with people. But the Zhou dynasty was not entirely peaceful. In 770 B.C., the capitol was moved from Haojing to Luoyang following an attack on the king. The attack also resulted in a new king. In 550 B.C., following some rivalry and a few petty wars, four major states emerged and marked the beginning of the Warring States period. The history of the Zhou dynasty was unique, and helped to shape the rest of ancient China’s expansive