Spring and Autumn period

The time of the Spring and Autumn Annals (Chinese春秋 时代/春秋 时代, Pinyin Chunqiu shidai ) is a name given to a period in Chinese history. It refers to the existence of annals in the Duchy of Lu ( Shandong ) for the years 722-481 BC and is named after the title of the Annals (Chinese春秋, Pinyin Chunqiu, spring and autumn ') named.

Development of the productive forces

In this period, a process that is perfectly suited to the Zhanguo time and leads to a reorganization of production and ownership begins.

• Spread and use of iron production units in agriculture and handicrafts, allows a more intensive cultivation of the soil, reclamation of derelict land.
• Invention of the plow pulled by cattle ( thus replacing the grave forks and hoes used previously ).
• Establishment of irrigation devices.

The development of the productive forces leads to the growth of production, specification of the products, growth of social wealth.

Of the total land ownership to private ownership of land

In the Western Zhou period ( 11th century to 771 BC) was nominally the king ( wáng ,王) owner of the land. In the Chunqiu period is taking place, the transition to private ownership of land. From the 6th century begins individual cultivation of the fields, in the result, the privately managed fields will be taxed: for the first time in 594 BC Lu.

Social differentiation

• Emergence of a non-aristocratic upper class in the village communities.
• Formation of a layer of the aristocracy of independent merchants.
• Progressive differentiation of the craft, the emergence of a distinct from the production of the farms crafts layer self-employed craftsmen.

Disintegration of the old political order

Nominally prevailed in China nor the Zhou Dynasty ( 11th century to 256 BC), but in fact, the significance of the house Zhou周since the 8th century BC noticeably from. Strengthening of the territorial rulers, some of whom Mighty controlled the large number of smaller territorial rulers. Among themselves, the larger territorial rulers took power in dispute春秋 五霸( five hegemons ). The territorial rulers gradually enter the system of levying tribute on - in favor of the establishment of tax payments and services. In the course of this development, many farmers left their villages and sought to no man's land or in areas of foreign territorial rulers a new life. The old clan system and the noble ethics of the Western Zhou period was gradually decomposed, development of new ethical systems. The ideas of the Confucian, legistischen, mohistischen schools call this turning point in the mental development.

List of states and their capitals

• Cai蔡- Shangcai上蔡 上蔡
• Cao曹
• Chen陈- Wanqiu宛丘; 宛丘
• Chu楚- Ying郢 郢
• Han韩
• Hua滑
• Jin晋- first: Tang唐/ later: Quwo曲沃/ after: Jiang and绛: Xintian新 田
• Lu鲁- Qufu曲阜 曲阜
• Qi齐- Linzi临淄 临淄
• Qin秦- Xianyang咸阳 咸阳
• Song宋- Shangqiu商丘 商丘
• Wey ( ≠ Wei)卫
• Wu吴- Gusu姑苏 姑苏
• Yan燕- Ji蓟/蓟
• Yue越- Kuaiji会稽 会稽
• Zheng郑- Xinzheng新郑
• Zhou周- Zongzhou / Hao and Chengzhou