Ch. 16 -The East Asian World 1400-1800

Ch. 16 -The East Asian World 1400-1800 16.1: China at Its Height

The Ming Dynasty • • • •

1368-1644 Overthrow of Mongol rule Founded by Ming Hong Wu Many positive changes

• 1406 – construction of Beijing – “Imperial City” – power and prestige

• Admiral Zheng He – Sailed to and opened trade with SE Asia, India, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa – Promoted Chinese culture; brings new items to China

• Contacts with the West – 1514 - Portuguese arrive on coast of China – Chinese are ethnocentric and xenophobic – Cultural diffusion between Europe and China

• Decline of Ming – Internal power struggles – Corruption, high taxes – Epidemic – Suffering = unrest; leads to peasant revolt • Peasants take the capital of Beijing; Ming fall

Qing Dynasty • Set up by Manchus – 1644-1911 • Manchu from present-day Manchuria • Forced Chinese to adopt Manchu look • Over time, were accepted and restored peace and prosperity • Brought Chinese into imperial administration (lower positions)

• Emperor Kangxi – 1661 -1722; 61 year reign – Revered as greatest emperor – Christianity flourished

• Emperor Qianlong – 1736-1795 – Expanded China to its greatest physical size

• Corruption, high taxes, population growth lead to unrest – White Lotus Rebellion - 1796-1804, weakens government

• Europeans in China – Qing decline, Europeans seek more trade – Qing controlled trade with Europeans: • All Europeans traders confined to a small island just outside Guangzhou • Traders could reside there only from October through March • Europeans could deal only with a limited number of Chinese firms licensed by the government.

– British desired more access to additional Chinese cities. – British had an unfavorable balance of trade with China because the Chinese government did not allow access to British manufactured good. – Britain imported tea, silk and porcelain by sending ever-increasing silver to China. – In 1973, Lord George Macartney visited Beijing to seek more liberal trade policies. – Emperor Qianlong rejects the British’s attempt.

16.2: Chinese Society and Culture

Economy and Daily Life • Agricultural society – 85% farmers • Increase in population – 1390 - 80 million – 1700 - 300 million – Land shortages

• Increase in manufacturing  trade • Lack of commercial capitalism – 2 reasons • Trade and manufacturing controlled by gov’t • Taxed manufacturing more than farming

• • • • •

Family oriented Confucian ideals Elderly very respected Women were subordinate to men Footbinding – status symbol

Chinese Art and Literature • Literature – More books purchased – Realistic social novels written

• Architecture and art – Imperial City – Complex of palaces and temples – Blue and white porcelain