Final answer:
The Zhou Dynasty's decentralized system of governance was feudalism, in which power and lands were distributed among regional lords, leading to a decline in the dynasty's central authority as these lords gained autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feudalism and the Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was characterized by a decentralized system of governance known as feudalism. This allowed the Zhou king to share power with regional lords by granting them lands in return for military support and tribute. However, the system eventually weakened as these lords amassed their own power and became more independent, leading to the eventual decline of the Zhou central authority. The feudal system was a complex network of loyalties and mutual benefits, featuring the division of lands among relatives, allies, and aristocrats. Key features of this system included hereditary fiefs, the exchange of military aid, and the performance of spiritual and administrative functions by the local lords within their own domains.
Over time, as the power and number of feudal lords grew, so did their autonomy, reducing the central power of the Zhou king. This phenomenon was a significant factor leading to the eventual fall of the Zhou Dynasty and rise of more centralized dynasties like the Qin, which adopted a different governance structure called the commandery-county system (junxian).