Final answer:
The Zhou dynasty claimed legitimacy by depicting themselves as the successors to and inheritors of the legacies of the Shang dynasty. They used the concept of the 'Mandate of Heaven' to justify their rule and performed rituals to demonstrate their legitimacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zhou dynasty claimed legitimacy for their rule by depicting themselves as the successors to and inheritors of the legacies of the Shang dynasty. They used the concept of the 'Mandate of Heaven' to justify their overthrow of the Shang and their own right to rule. The Zhou believed that heaven had chosen them as the righteous rulers, and they performed rituals to demonstrate this legitimacy.
By incorporating Shang cultural practices and adopting a new political ideology, the Zhou spread a shared cultural identity that became formative to Chinese civilization. They combined farming practices from the Shang with livestock raising learned from nomadic groups and acquired the arts of bronze-making and divination. The Zhou also inherited the Shang script and became the first to transmit texts from the ancient world directly to future generations.
In summary, the Zhou dynasty claimed legitimacy by positioning themselves as the rightful successors to the Shang dynasty through the belief in the 'Mandate of Heaven.' They incorporated Shang cultural practices and developed their own political ideology, which helped shape Chinese civilization.