1) How did the Zhou Dynasty come to power and defeat the Shang? 2) What was the Mandate of Heaven, and how did it help to justify the Zhou in overthrowing the Shang?
3) How did the Zhou rule their large empire, and how did this eventually lead to a weakening, and downfall, of the Zhou?
4) How was iron production related to the fall of the Zhou Dynasty?
5) What was the Warring States Period, and Why did the Warring States Period lead to a rise of Chinese Philosophies?
6) Who were the junzi and what did Confucius believe their role should be in the government?
7) How would the values of ren, li, and xiao lead to a stable and successful government?

Explanation:

After overthrowing the Shang Dynasty, the Zhou propagated a new concept known as the Mandate of Heaven. ... The Duke of Zhou defeated rebellions and established the Zhou Dynasty firmly in power at their capital of Fenghao on the Wei River (near modern-day Xi'an) in western China.

The Zhou created the Mandate of Heaven: the idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods. They used this Mandate to justify their overthrow of the Shang, and their subsequent rule.

The primary cause for the collapse of the Zhou dynasty was the implementation of the fengjian system, where the royal family would strengthen their authority over the other states by installing relatives as lords in the regions. ... During the Eastern Zhou period, royal authority continued to unravel.

By 334 BC there were 7 warring states: Qin, Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, Yan, and Qi. The Warring States Period ended with Qin's conquest of the other states. It was succeeded by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC, which marked the transition between ancient China and Imperial China.

Government and society in China were grounded in the Confucian philosophy, which held that there was a basic order in the universe and a natural harmony linking man, nature, and the cosmos