What is a warlord and how did the warlords contribute to the fall of the Zhou dynasty?

A warlord is a military leader who exercises control over a specific region, often operating independently of a central government. During the later years of the Zhou dynasty, various warlords gained power as the central authority weakened, leading to fragmentation and internal strife. Their rivalries and conflicts contributed to the decline of the Zhou dynasty, as they prioritized their own ambitions over loyalty to the ruling dynasty, ultimately leading to its collapse and the onset of the Warring States period.