More is known of Eastern Zhou cities than of those from the earlier Western Zhou period. Several major city sites have been excavated, the most important of which are Yanxiadu, the Zhou capital in their northern state of Yan, and Houma, the capital of Jin. One of the most important excavations has been at Shangcunling, a city annexed in 655 BC.
Nearly all of the excavated cities reveal evidence of large, strong walls surrounding them, an indication of the increase in interstate conflict as the larger states attacked and gobbled up smaller neighbouring states.
As power gradually slipped out of the hands of the Zhou kings, their supposedly vassal states jostled for control of more and more resources in their struggle for survival and domination. The flourishing cities of the Eastern Zhou were rich centres of wealth, weaponry and technical resources.
