Knowra Warring States period Warring States period The era of intense rivalry among Chinese states, conventionally dated from 475 to 221 BCE. It ended when Qin unified the rival states and founded the Qin dynasty.
Qin's wars of unification : The campaigns through which Qin conquered the other major Chinese states between 230 and 221 BCE. These campaigns ended the period by bringing the rival states under Qin rule.
Zhou dynasty : A Chinese dynasty that ruled from about 1046 to 256 BCE and established the political order preceding imperial unification. The Warring States era unfolded during the final centuries of Zhou rule.
Confucius : A Chinese teacher and thinker, traditionally dated to 551–479 BCE, whose teachings became the basis of Confucianism. His legacy shaped debates about moral government during the upheavals that followed.
Confucianism : A Chinese ethical and political tradition centered on moral cultivation, social relationships, ritual, and exemplary government. Its emphasis on virtue differed from the coercive methods favored by Qin Legalists.
Qin dynasty : China’s first imperial dynasty, founded by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE and overthrown in 206 BCE. It emerged from Qin victory and replaced the competing states with imperial rule.
Warring States military reforms : Changes to armies, recruitment, weapons, and command systems made by Chinese states during the Warring States period. Rivalry rewarded states that could field larger, more disciplined armies.
Spring and Autumn period : The era of political fragmentation and interstate conflict in China conventionally dated from 770 to 476 BCE. It preceded the Warring States period and saw the Zhou court lose effective control.
Mencius : A Confucian philosopher of the fourth century BCE who argued that human nature is inclined toward goodness. He urged rulers to win allegiance through benevolent government amid interstate competition.
Legalism : A Chinese political tradition that emphasizes clear laws, centralized authority, and incentives and penalties to govern. Its methods became closely associated with Qin’s successful state-building.
Qin Shi Huang : The ruler who unified China in 221 BCE and became its first emperor. He transformed Qin’s conquest into the founding of a centralized empire.
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