Final answer:
The Zhou dynasty weakened due to subordinate rulers consolidating power, rebelling, and forming alliances, which led to the rise of territorial states and the Warring States period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zhou dynasty was gradually weakened as subordinate rulers began to consolidate power, rebel against the Zhou dynasty, and also, sought alliances with other states. This fragmentation of power was a significant factor in the eventual decline of the Zhou and led to the Warring States period. These regional lords amassed armies and ignored the King's commands, searching for technological advantages and forming political alliances. This strategy allowed them to become increasingly autonomous and powerful, directly contributing to the decentralization and weakening of the Zhou dynasty.
Competition for Resources and Expansion of Territory
As the dynasty progressed and expanded, the number of feudal lords increased and competition for resources intensified. Over time, the system began to falter as these lords went from cooperating with the Zhou kings to challenging their authority. Eventually, the Zhou lords cemented their power through militaristic expansion and the construction of territorial states with clear boundaries.
The Rise of Territorial States
By 480 BC, the once numerous Zhou fiefs had reduced drastically in number. The remaining dukes began to take the title of "King," asserting their sovereignty. These territorial states were driven by a mission to acquire more land and labor, often through war. As such, they were markers of the decline of a unified Zhou authority and the precursor to the Warring States period, a time of relentless conflict and political scheming among these emergent states.