Impressively, the Zhou Dynasty ruled for over 700 years (1046-226 BCE), but Zhou kings did not tightly govern their states. Over time, kings found it harder to control the states. By 771 BCE, most of them were independent. The states began fighting each other, and by 334 BCE, Zhou rulers had lost all power in China.

During this period, the Qin Dynasty conquered all the Zhou states. The Qin only ruled for 15 years, but it was significant. King Zheng of Qin gave himself the higher title of Qin Shihuangdi, meaning “August Emperor”. He ruled over his empire with an iron fist, and people attempted to assassinate him three times. Qin Shihuangdi feared death, and he spent much time looking for an immortality potion. In the end, however, one of these potions killed him. His son, Qin Ershi, harshly ruled the empire until his death in 206. The Qin Dynasty had officially ended.

Administration

Zhou kings ruled over a kingdom of as many as 200 states, but there was no central power for the states. These states were mostly self-run by rulers who were family members of the Zhou king. This created a network of states united by family ties, or kinship. This system of rule was similar in many ways to the feudalism of Medieval Europe.

Kinship ties weakened over time as states became independent. The Zhou ruler had less and less control over these states as they became larger and more powerful. Eventually one of these states, controlled by the Qin Dynasty, overthrew the Zhou and conquered all of China.

Qin rule over China was very different from that of the Zhou. The Qin followed the doctrine of legalism, which was a harsh practice that required people to strictly follow the laws. Even breaking minor laws could result in execution. Qin Shihuangdi limited the power of local leaders and burned any books that might inspire people to challenge his rule. The emperor also began a number of building projects, most notably the Great Wall of China.

Religion and philosophy

At that time, Chinese religion worshipped a variety of gods. Before the Zhou, the Shang rulers had worshipped ti, a god who controlled destinies. The chief god of the Zhou kings was tian, meaning “Heaven.” The Zhou claimed that Heaven granted them kingship. Eventually, various states began worshipping other gods to challenge the Zhou’s power.

Later in the Zhou era, several major thinkers inspired Chinese religion and philosophy. Confucius (551-479 BCE) believed that social hierarchy and respect could stop violence in society. Laozi developed Daoism, a belief system focused on nature and freedom. Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, a book that has influenced military thinking across the world.

In 361 BCE, Lord Shang brought legalism to Qin. According to Shang, the law was the basis of power and it should be applied equally to all, no matter their social status. For Shang, the ruler was the absolute power. Shang was eventually killed. Nobles found his willingness to punish them like peasants to be a little too harsh! But legalism lived on, becoming the defining principal of the Qin empire.

Trade—No merchants, please

Trade appeared during the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou system of roads made it easier for merchants to distribute goods and even ideas between states. As trade made them wealthier, merchants began to take advantage of peasants for labor. However, Confucianism and legalists disagreed with the merchants’ business practices. They thought merchants could cause conflict in society, and many merchants were sent away during Qin rule. Understandably, trade didn’t grow much under Qin rule either.

Women and society

The Zhou and Qin followed the traditional separation between men and women that stretched back to at least Chalcolithic times, mostly when it came to work. Men farmed, and women spun cloth. By the end of the Zhou period and the early Qin dynasty, this separation became tied into Confucian moral values. One Chinese work tells of a woman who chose to burn to death in a fire rather than break the moral code.

Decline and fall—A sinking (kin)ship

The Zhou system was bound to fall apart. Weakened kinship ties caused states to lose connection to the king. Eventually, these powerful states competed for dominance while the Zhou rulers were increasingly pushed to the side.

It’s hard to say what caused the Qin to collapse. Traditional Chinese historians say the collapse was because of an abusive ruler who failed to learn from his mistakes. Meanwhile, the people themselves turned their back on traditional values of kinship. Historians outside China tend to explain the collapse with other social factors, like the numerous peasant revolts against the king. Regardless of the cause, the Qin left a major mark on China for years to come. In fact the actual name “China” likely comes from “Qin”!