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周赧王，名姬延(公元前?～前256年)。周慎靚王子。慎靚王死後繼位。在位59年，病死。葬於牽水北岸(今陝西省隴縣)，一說葬於嶽陽(今湖南省嶽陽縣)。
周赧王姬延在位期間，秦國開始左右出擊，南攻楚，東擊三晉(韓、趙、魏)，嚮中原地區擴展。
楚國於公元前306年滅越國後，幾乎占有了整個南部中國，成為戰國七雄中土地最大、人口最多，兵力最衆的大國，具有攻滅六國、統一中國的有利條件。然而，由於吳起變法的失敗，舊貴族勢力的強大，阻礙了楚國的發展，成為秦國攻擊的對象。為了抗秦，楚國和齊國結成了聯盟。秦國力圖拆散齊楚聯盟，以便各個擊破，於公元前313年派縱橫傢張儀赴楚，對楚懷王說，如楚國和齊絶交，秦王願以商於(今湖南省浙川內鄉一帶)600裏之地獻楚。楚懷王不顧屈原、陳軫、昭睢等有識之士的勸阻，聽信子蘭、靳尚、鄭袖等一群佞臣寵妃的話，應允了張儀，派使者跟他回秦受地。張儀一到秦，就假裝墜車傷了腳，閉門謝客。三個月後，張儀得知齊楚確實已經絶交，纔接見楚國使者說：“秦國的土地豈能隨便送人，我說的是將自己的六裏俸邑贈給你們。”楚懷王聽了怒不可遏，不顧陳軫等人勸阻，發兵攻秦，於公元前312年與秦軍戰於丹陽(今河南省丹江北)。楚軍大敗，主將屈勻及副將70餘人被生俘，8萬士兵陣亡，漢中郡被秦占領。楚懷王惱羞成怒，傾全國兵力再次攻秦。同年與秦軍又戰於藍田(今陝西省藍田縣)，再次大敗。韓、魏乘機出兵攻楚。楚兩面受敵，衹得匆忙撤退，嚮秦國割地求和。此後的一段時間內，秦國因致力於攻打三晉，楚國暫時解除了來自秦的威脅，但是，國內社會矛盾激化，於公元前301年發生了莊躋領導的農民起義，使統治階級受到了沉重的打擊。
公元前299年，秦王以結親為名，約楚懷王去武關(今陝西省商南縣)相會。楚懷王再次不聽屈原勸阻，聽信子蘭之言赴會，果然被秦兵劫持，押送到秦都鹹陽。兩年後，他逃跑不成，憂憤而死於秦。他死前，秦軍攻楚，殺楚軍5萬，奪去15座城市。公元前 280年以後，秦軍更開始集中兵力攻占了大片楚地，並於公元前278年由名將白起率兵攻占了楚國都城郢。楚國就此一蹶不振，一步步地在走嚮滅亡。在郢都陷落後，偉大的愛國詩人和政治傢屈原不忍心眼見楚國滅亡，投汨羅江(在今湖南省湘陰縣北)自盡。
秦在攻楚同時，又嚮三晉出擊。公元前314年，秦趁齊攻燕之機，出兵攻打三晉，奪取了不少地方。公元前308年，秦軍出函𠔌關進攻韓國的戰略要地宜陽(今河南省宜陽縣)。經過幾個月的激戰，秦軍於第二年攻剋宜陽，打開了通嚮中原的大門。公元前 293年，韓、魏兩國合兵抗秦，會戰於伊闕(河南省洛陽市南)，秦軍在白起指揮下大勝，殲敵24萬多人，韓、魏兩國的兵力受到嚴重削弱。此後，秦繼續進攻、蠶食三晉，到公元前286年止，已經占據了三晉一半的土地，首當其衝的韓、魏大大被削弱了。
秦國的日益壯大，使秦昭王不滿足於王的稱號，要稱帝以示尊嚴，準備取周而代之。公元前288年10月，秦昭王約齊愍王一起稱帝，秦為西帝，齊為東帝。12月，在縱橫傢蘇秦勸說下，齊愍王去帝號，迫使秦昭王也取消了帝號。兩強稱帝，暴露了他們吞併五國、瓜分天下的企圖，使五國十分惶恐，導致了五國攻秦和六國攻齊兩大事件。韓、趙、魏、齊、燕的五國攻秦，由於各國各懷目的，難以統一步調，最後無功而散。公元前284年，燕、秦、楚、趙、魏、韓六國在秦王組織下聯合攻齊，燕軍在名將樂毅指揮下大敗齊軍，長驅直入，攻占齊國都城臨淄，攻取齊國七十多城，齊國衹剩下莒、即墨兩城，齊王逃奔於莒。五年以後，在齊國名將田單指揮下，齊軍纔打敗燕軍，收復失地。經過這次打擊，齊國國力大衰，此後就不是秦的對手了。
楚、齊逐漸衰落時，趙國卻強盛起來。公元前307年，趙國國君武靈王深知本國處於燕、東鬍、林鬍、樓煩、秦、韓之間，不強兵就會亡國，决心奮發圖強，振興趙國。針對趙當時的主要對手是東鬍等遊牧民族的形勢，他决定建立起一支強大的騎兵。但是，當時趙國人穿的是長袍大褂，袖長腰肥，領寬下襬大，不適宜騎馬作戰。於是，他從改革服裝着手，自己首先改穿了窄袖短褂的鬍服。許多貴族認為這是違背禮教，大逆不道。趙武靈王終於說服了有影響的貴族公子成，然後下了嚴厲的命令，要臣民改換服裝，使鬍服在全國得到推廣，建立起一支善於騎射的強悍騎兵。這件事，史稱“趙武靈王鬍服騎射”。它說明了當時我國各民族相互取長補短，在習俗上逐漸接近。趙國依靠騎兵，連年出擊，到公元前296年，攻滅中山國(今河北省北部一帶)後，領土大大擴充，國力增強，一時成為抗秦的主要力量。
公元前262年，秦軍攻韓，韓上黨郡守馮亭以17城降趙。兩年後，秦軍攻取了上黨，繼而進攻長平(今山西省高平縣)，趙國名將廉頗率軍固守不出，擋住了秦軍。秦國施用反間計，施放謠言說，廉頗容易對付，而且他快要投降了。昏庸的趙孝成王竟然相信了謠言，撤換了廉頗，以誇誇其談毫無實戰經驗的趙括為統帥。趙括一反廉頗的戰術，出兵大舉攻秦。秦軍此時已經暗中換上了能徵善戰的白起為主將。白起指揮秦軍佯逃，誘趙括追擊到秦軍陣地之前，然後包圍了趙軍。趙軍被圍40多天，糧草斷絶，趙括率精兵突圍，被亂箭射死，趙軍40萬人降秦。白起擔心降卒暴動，除放回240個小孩外，全部予以坑殺。這次戰役史稱“長平之戰”。它使趙國兵力損失殆盡，從此元氣大傷，一蹶不振。趙括長於空談，導致亡軍殞身，引出了“紙上談兵”這一成語。
姬延在位期間，周王室已經十分衰弱，他所統治的地盤衹有三四十座城池，3萬多人口。還分成“東周”和“西周’，兩部分由東周公和西周公分治，姬延居於“西周”(即王城)。時秦國已攻占了韓、魏、趙三國的很多地方，眼看下一步就要收拾周朝。姬延在憂心忡忡中度日。這時，楚國想抑製秦國勢力的擴展，派使者請姬延以天子名義，號令各國協力攻秦。姬延大喜，命令西周公簽丁湊起了一支五六千人的軍隊，可是缺少武器、糧餉。姬延嚮境內的富戶籌藉軍資，付給他們藉券，答應周軍班師之日以戰利品償還。
公元前256年，姬延準備就緒，任命西周公為大將，率領五千軍隊伐秦，並約六國諸侯到伊闕(今河南省洛陽市南)會合，一起出擊。不料，除了楚、燕兩國派了些兵來以外，其他四國的兵馬都失約不來，在伊闕的總兵力不過幾萬，遠不是幾十萬秦兵的對手。結果，等了3個月仍不見其他四國的兵馬到來，士氣渙散，西周公衹好帶着自己的人馬無功而回。
“西周”的富戶見周軍回來，紛紛持藉券嚮姬延討債。他們從早到晚聚集在宮門外，喧嘩不止，聲音直傳入內宮。姬延愧悔不及，又無可奈何，衹好躲到宮後的一個高臺上避債。周朝人將這個高臺稱為“逃責臺”(即逃債臺)。此後，秦軍不肯罷休，攻下韓國的陽城(今河南省登封縣東南)、負黍(今河南省登封縣西南)後，直撲東周王城。姬延驚慌，打算逃奔韓國或魏國。西周公勸說道：“秦吞併六國已是大勢所趨，韓、魏兩國也不會幸免，大王與其到那時被俘受辱，還不如趁早投降，結局或許能好些。”姬延無奈衹好率領臣下和宗室，到祖廟哭拜了一番，三天後，親自帶着傢眷、圖册，去秦軍軍營投降。秦昭襄王受降，封他為周公，命令他居住於梁城(今陝西省韓城縣南)，並奪去象徵國傢權力的九鼎寶器。至此，東周宣告滅亡。
姬延當時已經年老，奔走於周，秦，梁等地，經不起勞苦，到梁城後不滿一月就病死。姬延死後謚號為赧王
Chu in 306 BC, destroyed more countries, almost occupied the whole of southern China, the Warring States to become the largest in the land, the most populous, most numerous in the great strength of the country, with Gongmie six countries, favorable conditions for the reunification of China. However, due to the failure of Qi Reform, the powerful forces of the old aristocracy, hindered the development of Chu, Qin became the object of attack. To Gang Qin, Chu and Qi alliances. Qin sought to break up neat and smart alliance to each break, in 313 BC, went on to send strategists Zhang Yi Chu, the grandson said, such as Chu and Qi Dear John, the King of Qin willing provider in the (now within the rural area of Hunan Province Zhejiang and Sichuan) Xian-Chu 600 in place. Grandson of the disregard of Qu Yuan, Chen Zhen, Zhao Sui and other people of insight to discourage, listen son Lan, Jin Shang, Zheng Xiu Chen Chong Fei such a group of eloquent words, promised, Zhang Yi, sent messengers to him by the way back to Qin. Qin Zhang Yi arrived, pretending to fall on the vehicle or injure a foot, behind closed doors, thank-you. Three months later, Zhang Yi that neat and smart indeed Dear John, before meeting with Chu envoy said: "How can the state of Qin of the land given away casually, I said six years his pension Yap donated to you." Grandson of the After listening to rage, regardless of Chen Zhen, who discourage, hair Bing Gong Qin, and Qin in 312 BC battle at Danyang (Jiangbei Dan, Henan province). Chu defeat, Lord Whitty uniform and lieutenants were Shengfu 70, 80 000 soldiers were killed, Hanzhong County was occupied by Qin. Grandson of the angry, the whole nation forces again attacked Qin. In the same year another battle with the Qin army in the Lam Tin (now Lantian County in Shaanxi Province), once again defeated. Han, Bing Gong Wei Chu opportunity out. Chu sides by the enemy, only hasty retreat, ceding territory and paying sums to the state of Qin. After some time, due to efforts to attack Sanjin Qin, Chu temporarily relieved from the threat of Qin, but the domestic social conflicts intensified, in 301 BC occurred in the village among the top leadership of the peasant uprising, so the ruling class by a heavy blow.
299 BC, the King of Qin to marry in the name of the grandson about to force off (now County, Shaanxi Province) meet. Again do not listen to Qu Yuan, the grandson of dissuasion, listen to the words of vanilla to attend, and she was Bing Qin hijacked and sent to the Qin Capital. Two years later, he fled fail, Anger died YU Qin. He died, Qin attacked Chu, Chu 50 000 killed, took 15 cities. After 280 BC, Qin started to concentrate forces captured large areas of Chu and in 278 BC by the famous White captured the Chu capital from shuaibing Ying. Chu on this devastated, step by step towards extinction. Yingdu after the fall of the great patriotic poet and statesman Qu Yuan, Chu could not bear to witness destruction, vote Miluo River (in today Xiangyin County, Hunan Province) himself.
Chu, Qi gradually decline, the State of Zhao is strong and prosperous. 307 BC, Zhao Guoguo Kimitake king Ling Yan aware of their own in the East Hu, Lin Hu, Lou Fan, Qin, Han, between weak soldiers will be conquered nation, determined to work hard to revitalize the State of Zhao. Zhao was the main rival for the Eastern Wu, nomadic peoples of the situation, he decided to establish a strong cavalry. But Zhao was wearing the robe coat, Sleeve waist fat, wide collar Hem large horse operations inappropriate. So he started from the reform of clothing, their first wearing a tight sleeves Duangua of Hu Dress. Many nobles think that this is contrary to propriety, outrageous. King Wuling of Zhao finally persuaded the influential noble son into, and then under the strict orders to his subjects change clothes, so be promoted Hu Dress in the country and establish a good at riding and shooting, powerful cavalry. This, known to history, "King Wuling of Zhao Hu Dress riding and shooting." It illustrates the complementarity between the various nationalities that time, the custom gradually close. Zhao rely on cavalry, attack year after year, to 296 BC, the Gongmie Zhongshan State (now the northern area of Hebei Province), the territory greatly expanded, enhanced national strength, the incident became a major force Gang Qin.
In 256 BC, Ji Yan ready for the general appointed Western Duke, led the 5000 military Faqin, and about six princes to Yique (south of Luoyang City, Henan province) joined together to attack. Unexpectedly, in addition to Chu, Yan, China sent more troops to, other four countries of the troops and horses are not to missed appointments, the total strength in Yique but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Bing Qin far rivals. The results, so the 3 months is still not seen the other four countries the arrival of troops and horses, morale and lax, West Duke had to bring their troops without success.