pyramid shaped societies in china and china’s long modernization
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Pyramid Shaped Societies in China and China’s Long Modernization. Reading: Smith (on China), 485-486, 682-686, 690-697, 697-716, D 16.5: “Letter to King George: China and Great Britain”. Qin Shih Huang – First Chinese Emperor. The Song Dynasty- (960-1279). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Pyramid Shaped Societies in China and China’s Long
Modernization
Reading: Smith (on China), 485-486, 682-686, 690-697, 697-716,D 16.5: “Letter to King George: China and Great Britain”
Qin Shih Huang – First Chinese Emperor
The Song Dynasty- (960-1279)
• Italian Marco Polo visited in 1275, overwhelmed by China’s wealth and splendor- far higher living standard than that of the West.
Complex internal market systems- proto-capitalism
silk production paper currency
1500 C.E.- China’s Place in the World
• China is the most economically advanced, wealthiest and politically united region in the world.
• New World Economy- based on the Asian market pull of tea, silk, porcelain, spices. China primarily exports- little need for European goods.
Comparable in size and complexity to all of Europe
• China is composed of many populations and religions—42 or more ethnic groups in China today– Practiced Buddhism
(various forms), ancestor worship, Christianity (from ancient world), Islam
– Most in China also believed in Confucian or Daoist philosophy
• Widespread ideology of unity- “all under heaven.” May partially explain ability to rule such a vast empire: – Family (not so much
individual) central
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Hongwu and the “Red Turbans” overthrow the Mongols Ming Porcelain
Yongle Emperor
• Moved capital north to Beijing
• Constructed Forbidden City
• Developed Chinese Encyclopedia
• Buried in large Ming tomb
Explorations of Zheng He, 1400, marks the end of Song/Yuan traditions of ocean exploration
• Largest ships in the world sent by the Yongle Emperor.
• Explorations did not seek to establish colonies or trade.
Shift in Global Dynamics around 1500
• Europe began exploring and conquering the New World
• China became increasingly absorbed with internal affairs
China turns its energies towards internal development- expansion and
consolidation• Protect borders from constant invasions: Restore
and Expand Great Wall – 1550 miles long, 33-49 feet tall
• 1411- Grand Canal built from the coast to Beijing tied the country together and eliminated the need for coastal trade
Why Did Europe Surpass China Technologically and Militarily?
- CHINA:- --Population outgrew
resources and capital- --Rice agriculture offered
little incentive for modernization – very productive but subject to catastrophic flooding
- Peasant Wars and Subsistence Crises
- EUROPE:- --capital and slave labor
of New World.- --Science and
Industrialization
Chinese Growing Problems
Ming economic reforms:- End of money and credit system and tax
reforms reduce capital- Quest for silver
Internal affairs lead to isolationist policy
Education and examination system
-Biggest education system in the world focused on Confucian philosophy and literature rather than sciences
-Competitive civil service system led to rise of large gentry class which weakened central control
Wanli• -Lived Extravagantly in
"Forbidden City"• Drank, Smoked Opium,
Played with concubines
• -Used Eunuchs to Deal with Govt.
• -Threatened by Pirates 1520s-1560s
• -Threatened by Manchus• War• Taxes• 1630s--Famines
-Many Peasant Revolts- Later Emperors no better:• Beijing captured by Bandits
and Manchus • Qing Dynasty formed c 1645
Warfare system differed from that of Europe
- Threat from North led to concern about horses and fighting on horseback
- Gunpowder technology as a strategy of war seems less developed than west