CHINA 1450 - 1750
QING DYNASTY
MING DYNASTY
Emperor Yongle (reigned 1402-1422) sought to compile all previous writing on history, geography, ethics, government, and more
had efforts to eliminate all signs of foreign rule while promoting Confucian learning based on models from the Han, Tang, and Song Dynasties
Did not seek to assimilate people
Central Asia becomes more urbanized under Qing Dyanasty
Rejected maritime empire, but built a massive land empire
Initially, ended all relations with Central Asia and the Middle East
Silver replaced paper money
Reestablished the civil service examination system
Created highly centralized government
Still had bureaucracy and the civil service exams became very competitive
Emperor lived in the Forbidden City (government was very centralized)
moved capital back to Beijing
Initially moved capital to Nanjing (“southern capital”) on the Yangzi River
Adapted to many of the old Chinese ideals and customs one of them being the kow-tow
Used Confucianism to legitimize his rule
Imposed strict limits on imports and foreign visitors
Two of the most important emperors were Kangxi and Qianlong
Built canals, reservoirs, and irrigation works & planting a billion trees to reforest China
the economy rebounded & international and domestic trade flourished = population growth
Population outpaced food supply but not evident before 1750
During 15th century, China had recovered and was the best-governed and most prosperous of the world’s major civilizations
One of the best-known products of Ming technological advance was porcelain
oversaw the construction of the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, a historical site located on the south bank of the Yangtze
Was a Patriarchal society
Women encouraged to commit suicide after husbands died
The Kangxi Dictionary was a Chinese dictionary which contained about 47,000 characters.
Sometimes considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World
It was mostly destroyed in the 19th century during the course of the Taiping Rebellion.
Their rule spanned about 130 years
Made a culturally rich empire
launched an enormous fleet in 1405 which participated in seven expeditions in 28 years
Managed Chinese economy very welll
Captained by the Muslim eunuch Zheng He (Jung Huh)
Visited ports in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India, Arabia, and East Africa
Emperors supported printing and distribution of materials
Zheng He’s expeditions were officially described as “bringing order to the world”
Porcelain became major art form during Ming and Qing
established Chinese power & prestige in the Indian Ocean while exerting Chinese control over foreign trade in the region
Population growth supported by trade and influx of American silver
New silver supplies generally helped Chinese economy
Showed respect for Mongolian, Muslim, and Tieban cultures of conquered regions
Wanted to enroll foreign peoples into the Chinese tribute system where they presented tribute, performed rituals of submission, and received gifts, titles, and trading opportunites in return