Seeking Horses: Allies, Clients and Exchanges in the Zhou Period (1045–221 BC)

Abstract Horses and chariots—and the associated technology expertise—derived from steppe contributed to success of Zhou conquest Shang in c. 1045 BC remained important throughout rule ancient China. On basis material cultural patterns, including style used bridle cheek-pieces found tombs late second early first millennium BC, this paper points a northern origin for horses. Important intermediaries, providing these horses, were clans whose cemeteries have been identified on edges Central Plains. The necessity repeated exchanges bringing south horses north was consequence key environmental differences between Plains, climate, geomorphology, essential soil nutrients, land use. These created significant difficulties sustainably breeding pasturing quality. As result, people Plains bound, over millennia, seek northwest, along corridor that also moved materials technologies, such as gold-, iron- some bronze-working, into steppes.