The Zhou dynasty was the longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history and followed the Shang. According to tradition, King Wu overthrew the Shang rulers in a battle at Muye around 1046 BCE and claimed that the Mandate of Heaven had passed to him. The early Western Zhou period, with its capital near modern Xi'an, was a time of feudal rule, in which the king granted lands to relatives and allies. In 771 BCE the capital was moved east, beginning the Eastern Zhou, and royal power declined as states competed in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. This was also the age of Confucius, Laozi and many other thinkers. The last Zhou ruler was removed by Qin in 256 BCE.
Before and after
- c. 1,051 BCESiege of Jebus
- c. 1,051 BCEThe Phoenician alphabet spreads
- from c. 1,050 BCE to 930 BCEUnited Kingdom of Israel
- c. 1,050 BCEEruption of Pinatubo
- from c. 1,046 BCE to 256 BCEZhou dynasty
- from 11th century BCE to 7th century BCEChaldea
- 11th century BCEThe Bantu expansion begins
- 1st millennium BCEOrigins of Kabul
- from c. 996 BCE to 586 BCEConstruction of Solomon's Temple
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 11th century BCE.