What characterized the period in which Confucius lived and responded?

Confucius lived during a period which the German philosopher Karl Jaspers has called the "Axial Age," the period between 800-200 BCE which Jaspers said turned on a historical axis of the year 500 BCE when the world's major religious and thought systems emerged. So basically religious things started to pop up.

Explanation:

the proximity of water was an advantage to western europe and its culture was able to flourish as a result. trade and travel by sea were easier and safer in historical times.

1. there are no mountains to protect it from the sea

2. and its has wet cool summers and wet, mild winters.