Around 1045 BCE, the Zhou, a group of people in northwestern China, moved into the central plains. They overthrew the Shang dynasty and established a new dynasty. To justify their conquest, they claimed that they had been given the Mandate of Heaven, a divine (or heavenly or godly) right to rule China. According to this belief, Heaven was a power that controlled human destiny. The king was considered the Son of Heaven. As long as the king did not govern well, Heaven would send sign of its displeasure, such as earthquakes and floods. When the king lost the support of Heaven, others had the right to overthrow him. The Zhou and later groups believed in the Mandate of Heaven. Between about 770 and 453 BCE, a number of small states often quarreled with one another. They eventually grouped into six or seven larger states that fought for power. These wars brought some 250 years of disorder to China. This historical time is often called the Warring States period. 1. Who overthrew the Shang dynasty? 2. How were they able to justify the overthrow? 3. Describe 2 characteristics of the Mandate of Heaven. 4. What was this period of