- Based in the North China Plain
- Introduced the Mandate of Heaven
- Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism established
- Western Zhou period (c. 1046 - 771 BC)
- Fought Shang dynasty in Battle of Muye (c. 1046 BC)
- Eastern Zhou period (771 BC - 256 BC)
- Spring and Autumn period (c. 771 - 481 BC)
- Warring States period (c. 475 - 221 BC)
- Conquered by Qin dynasty (256 BC)