Final answer:
The Zhou Dynasty rose to power in ancient China through military conquests, political alliances, and cultural changes. They expanded their territory and formed alliances with local chiefs and nobility. They introduced influential changes like the concept of heaven and combined Shang practices with influences from nomadic groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zhou Dynasty rose to power in ancient China through a combination of military campaigns, political alliances, and cultural changes. They expanded their territory east over the Yellow River through military conquests. They also granted aristocratic titles to local chiefs and nobility in exchange for tribute and military service, forming alliances to strengthen their rule.
The Zhou introduced influential changes to distinguish themselves from the previous Shang Dynasty. They allowed the scale of human sacrifices to decline and phased out the use of divination with oracle bones. They also introduced the concept of a higher power referred to as heaven, positioning themselves as mediators between heaven and earth.
Furthermore, the Zhou combined practices from the Shang Dynasty with influences from nomadic groups, such as farming and livestock raising. They also inherited the Shang logographic script and transmitted important texts to future generations. However, over time, their power became diffused among smaller kingdoms, weakening their centralized rule.