The '''Zhou dynasty''' replaced the [[Shang dynasty]] in 1027 BC. It was the longest ruling dynasty in Chinese history. The Zhou dynasty continued until 221 BC. The early period of the Zhou dynasty (1027 to 771 BC) was remembered in Chinese tradition as a time of peace and prosperity. In the later period (771 to 221 BC) centralized control broke down and warfare among small states became frequent.<ref>''The Earth and Its Peoples A Global History'', Bulliet et al, 2005</ref>
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{{language box
|c=周朝
|c=周朝
|p=Zhōu cháo
|p=Zhōu cháo
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|w=Chou<sup>1</sup> ch'ao<sup>2</sup>
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|w=Chou ch'ao
}}
}}
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The '''Zhou dynasty''' replaced the [[Shang dynasty]] in 1027 BC. It was the longest ruling dynasty in Chinese history. The Zhou dynasty continued until 221 BC. The early period of the Zhou dynasty (1027 to 771 BC) was remembered in Chinese tradition as a time of peace and prosperity. In the later period (771 to 221 BC) centralized control broke down and warfare among small states became frequent.<ref>''The Earth and Its Peoples A Global History'', Bulliet et al, 2005</ref>
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The Zhou dynasty developed the multiplication tables. These were later brought to [[Europe]] by [[Marco Polo]].
The Zhou dynasty developed the multiplication tables. These were later brought to [[Europe]] by [[Marco Polo]].