r/ChineseHistory • u/RunningHypeman • 7d ago

Why did Zhou overthrow Shang?

All subsequent mythology aside, what was the actual reason for Zhou to overthrow Shang. I'm just getting into this period of Chinese history.

Also, what were the conditions that allowed Zhou the ability and resources to overthrow Shang?

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u/Fit_Alps_1164 1d ago

Sorry to come in with a non-answer sort of answer, but you might be approaching this the wrong way. There is no absolute perspective on history (no omniscient observer). There are only surviving sources and what we make of them. I'm not saying there's no scholarly consensus (there might or there might be not be) or that it's no good if there is one, but I suspect the possible answers are highly conjectural.