The Zhou Dynasty began in 1046 BCE and lasted until 256 BCE. During this period, the Zhou rulers were divided into two distinct groups: the Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (770–256 BCE).
The leader of the Western Zhou Dynasty was King Wu of Zhou, who is traditionally credited with the founding of the dynasty and its political structure. King Wu was the eldest son of the previous Shang Dynasty king, and he led a rebellion against the Shang, defeating them at the Battle of Muye in 1046 BCE. At the onset of the dynasty, he established a feudal system which allowed vassals to rule parts of the kingdom, but with the king responsible for the overall government of the state. When King Wu died in 1043 BCE, his son, King Cheng, succeeded him as the ruler of the Zhou Dynasty.
King Cheng was known for expanding the kingdom’s territory and trying to maintain peace among the various vassal states. He achieved notable successes in foreign affairs, such as the agreement with the Quanrong barbarians which helped secure the Zhou Dynasty’s northern borders. However, he was also known for his ambitious nature, leading to a rapid decline in central authority by the end of his reign.
Following King Cheng’s death in 1021 BCE, his son, King Kao, took the throne and ruled for eight years. During his reign, the decline of the Zhou Dynasty continued and he failed to restore stability or unity among the various vassal states. His refusal to accept advice from the court’s scholar-officials caused discontent among those loyal to the king.
King Kao’s son, King Xiao, succeeded him in 1013 BCE. His reign saw a further decline in the Zhou Dynasty’s power and influence and ended abruptly in 977 BCE when he was deposed by the Marquis of Shen, a powerful vassal state. From this point onward, the Zhou kings became little more than figureheads and the true power lay in the hands of the various, independent lords.
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty began in 770 BCE after the fall of the last Western Zhou king. During this period, the Zhou rulers no longer had control over the vassal states and the government was mainly handled by the nobles. Various schools of thought developed during this time, such as Confucianism and Daoism, which had a great impact on Chinese society.
The last Zhou ruler was King Nan of Zhou, who reigned from 256–249 BCE. Although he had nominal control over some of the vassal states, he was unable to restore the kingdom to its former glory. In 249 BCE, he was defeated by the Qin armies, marking the end of the Zhou Dynasty and the beginning of the Qin Dynasty.