Page 13 - China
P. 13

The emperors during the late Zhou

                 dynasty were not very strong.  They
                 could not control their people.  So,

                 many smaller states were formed.  The                   Dividing the
                 armies of the states fought against one                Eastern Zhou

                 another.  Soon, civil war erupted.  There          To make it even more
                                                                    confusing, the Eastern
                 were many long battles.  Thousands of
                                                                    Zhou had two shorter
                 men died.  And, the countryside was                periods.  The Spring and

                 destroyed.                                         Autumn period was first.
                                                                    It lasted for almost 300
                      The decline of the Zhou dynasty
                                                                    years.  The Warring States
                 was the beginning of major social                  period was about the last

                 changes in China.  A great age of                  250 years of the Zhou
                 philosophy (fuh-LAWS-uh-fee) was                   dynasty.

                 about to begin.
                                                                        Powerful Iron

                   Empress Wu of the Zhou dynasty                   Iron was a very valuable
                                                                    metal.  It made plows
                                                                    stronger.  Weapons could
                                                                    be also strengthened.
                                                                    Men at war wore iron
                                                                    armor to protect
                                                                    themselves.  Iron is still
                                                                    a valuable resource
                                                                    across the world today.





                                                                               These are bells
                                                                               created during
                                                                               the Warring
                                                                               States period.


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