What were the causes of the decline and eventual fall of the Zhou dynasty?

Question

What were the causes of the decline and eventual fall of the Zhou dynasty?

Answer 1

The Zhou system was unstable, having to deal with chronic warfare between the various substrates and outsiders.  Over the centuries, larger substates conquered smaller ones.  The worst warfare occurred during the Era of the Warring States, beginning around 500 C.E.  Local dukes ignored the Zhou king and fought among themselves for supremacy.  The last of the Zhou states were eventually conquered by the Qin in 221 C.E., who established a more centralized government over most of the Chinese people.