Zhou Dynasty (1 gen 1200 anni a. C. – 1 gen 256 anni a. C.)

Descrizione:

Wei River Valley (northwestern China)

Shang rulers were allowed to control small states

SOCIAL PRIVILEGE:
The rich have more privilege (are you shocked? I'm so shocked)
Again, monopolized bronze market meant they could use all the bronze they wanted (decorations included).
They also got at least basic education (keep in mind, probably at least somewhat different from what we consider basic today. I'm assuming they weren't learning about volcano erruptions and long division).
Also, they had manuals for etiquette. Like how to eat with rich people, etc.

SPECIALIZED LABOR:
Common people who managed to work for rich people also had it relatively good: they lived in houses that tended to not collapse on their heads and they ate food on an almost-daily basis. What a good life.
There were lots of different types of merchants and artisans.
Farmers farm on government-given land and then the government takes most of their food (this sounds oddly familiar...). Then they write a poem equating the government to "large rats" (poetic).

SLAVES
(mostly war prisoners)

Communication through the Yangzi River made it easy for Zhou and Shang influence to travel down to southern and eastern China as well. Later on, this would allow for their cultural similarities to unify them (with the help of some military work) into one single China.