China in the Pre-Modern Era

1. China in the Pre-Modern Era 1450-1750

2. What are people doing in this painting? • Why did the artist choose this subject to paint? Irrigating and cultivating rice Rice is/was Asia’s most important food—the scene was familiar to the artist

3. Rice is a primary food crop in East/South Asia • Asia produces 90% • Planted in flooded fields called “paddies” • Need heavy rainfall

4. China • XIA DYNASTY • c. 2000 – 1700 B.C.E. • Supposedly founded by Yu the Great • Based on legend – may not have existed

5. Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 • Established by Emperor Hongwu • Tried to remove all signs of Mongol rule • Centralized power and established direct rule by the emperor • Used eunuchs (sterile men who couldn’t produce a family to challenge the emperor’s dynasty • - Used Mandarins = emissaries sent out to enforce government policies • Reestablished Civil Service system based on Confucian values to ensure scholar-gentry bureaucracy based on ability—not friends or social standing

6. continued Ming Dynasty • China completed the Great Wall in the Ming period • Response to previous Mongol invasions • Successfully protected China from outside invaders • The only time that invaders got beyond the wall and invaded was when China was experiencing internal problems

9. How long is the Great Wall of China? How many miles is it across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris? If the Great Wall were placed on the United States with one end at Boston, how far across the country would it extend? How far is it between San Francisco and Boston? 4,160 miles (6,693 km.) New York Paris 3,610 miles (5,808 km) Past San Francisco San Francisco Boston 3,095 miles (4, 980 km.)

10. The Altar of Heaven is part of the Temple of Heaven, or Tian Tan, built during the Ming dynasty in Beijing, China. The red walls and gold detailing are typical of Ming architecture.

12. continued Ming Dynasty Economy • Increased commercial activity + population increase led to economic expansion • New food groups from the Americas (maize & peanuts) were suitable for Chinese cultivation • Increased food = population increase • Rebuilt irrigation systems = agricultural surplus • Promoted manufacturing: silk, cotton, and porcelain • The silk trade was its most profitable = China protected the secret of silkmaking for many centuries • Demanded tribute from surrounding states

13. Columbian Exchange • European conquest of the new world brought changes on all sides • Movement of goods and ideas from each side is called the Columbian Exchange • 3 most important crops to Asia: • Maize • Sweet Potatoes • Peanuts • New crops improved diet and increased populations worldwide

15. Economy Ming Dynasty continued • Demand for Chinese goods = overseas trade expanded • European, Asian, and Muslim traders traded in China’s main port cities • Chinese merchant class grew in wealth and power

16. Economy Ming Dynasty continued • Established a national tax • All taxes had to be paid in silver • Tribute states paid in silver also • Global implications = huge demand for silver • Silver was shipped from the Americas & Japan • Japan & the Americas made huge profits

17. Between 1405-1433, China launched huge, state-sponsored trading expeditions to southern Asian and beyond • Enormous fleets • huge fleets = 62 ships, 28,000 men • brought back unimaginable wealth to China

18. Admiral Zheng He commanded the fleets • Muslim from western China • Well suited to deal with Muslims on southeast Asian trade routes • resented by Confucian bureaucrats

19. Traveled to Southeast Asia, Ceylon, India, the Persian Gulf, Arabia, and the East African coast • Established tributary relationships • Technologically advanced fleets and armies could face any adversary • Traded porcelain and silk from China • Luxury gifts (tributes) he received from the countries he visited included exotic African animals that were added to the Ming Dynasty’s zoo • Zheng He’s voyages demonstrated China’s ability to be a military, political, and economic power in the Indian Ocean

21. Chinese vessels dwarfed European ships • Europeans were no match for Chinese ships Chinese ships = 440 feet; Columbus’ ship = 75 feet

22. China canceled the fleets in 1433 • The Ming government didn’t trust Zheng He • Feared Mongolian attacks from the north • Used the money to strengthen defense and agriculture • The government destroyed his nautical charts • Zheng He’s ships fell into disrepair • China’s withdrawal from world trade unintentionally cleared the way for European expansion and domination of world trade

23. Ming Society & Culture • The revival of civil service exams encouraged the creation of an extensive scholar-bureaucrat class, responsible for governing the empire • Restoration of Confucian traditions encouraged the subordination of women • women were more tightly controlled in many ways • widows were strongly discouraged from remarrying • foot binding was increasingly popular = even in the lower classes

24. Ming Society & Culture • Literature • Yongle Encyclopedia = a collection of Chinese philosophy, literature, and history • Chinese novels became more popular • - The Golden Lotus = describes a wicked landowner who mistreats people aroun him • Increased literacy

25. Ming Society & Culture • Art • Exquisite glassware = porcelain • China is synonymous with dishware • Scroll painting = depicted landscapes, historical events, and nature

26. Ming Society & Culture • Matteo Ricci • A Jesuit Scholar • In the 1500’s he traveled to the Ming court • Represents Western attempts to spread Christianity to East Asia • Christian missionaries tried to win the support of Chinese emperors • Missionaries brought new scientific and mathematical knowledge to the imperial court • Example = the Chinese liked the mechanical clock • Ming emperors welcomed most missionaries • Christian missionaries gained only a few converts – generally, they were unsuccessful

27. What’s wrong with #6 on this map? Abraham Ortelius Map, 1570 It shows New Guinea too close to South America Matteo Ricci showed a similar map to the Chinese. The map significantly influenced Chinese cartography.

28. To appeal to the Chinese, Ricci converted Ortelius’ map • Ricci placed China and the Pacific Ocean in the center • Ricci hoped to show that Europe’s God, like their maps, was superior to Chinese deities #6 = eliminates the South Sea

29. The Forbidden City • Located in modern-day Beijing • Capital of the Ming and Qing Empires • The imperial family, royal concubines, and court eunuchs lived in the Inner Court • Grandeur and size of the palace reflects the empire’s power & authority

30. Ming Collapse • Early Ming China (1368-1400’s) • Politically dynamic • Militarily active, conquered territories & established tribute states • Economically prosperous • Population grew • Impressive cultural achievements: literary masterpieces, fine porcelain, architecture, & the revival of Confucianism

31. Ming Collapse • Factors that led to the Ming’s decline: • Climate change • Nomadic invasions • Pirates • Decline of the Silk Road • Inept rulers • Western European Influence

32. Economy Ming Decline “Little Ice Age” • In the 1600’s, a broad climate change swept Europe & China = colder weather • seriously affected agricultural production • caused health issues/deaths • Population continued to grow • The land couldn’t support the people = famine in China • Led to widespread peasant revolts

33. Ming Collapse • Nomadic Invasions • Tibet helped the Mongols reemerge as a regional power • Mongols gave the Tibetan leader the title of Dalai Lama = “universal teacher” of Tibetan Buddhism • The Ming sent armies in response to a Japanese attack against Korea, a Chinese tributary state. • ** Greatest threat Manchus = tribe from the Northeast (Manchuria)

34. Ming Collapse Pirates Chinese and Japanese pirates attacked Chinese ships entering/leaving Chinese ports

35. Ming Collapse • Decline of the Silk Road • The Silk Road declined in importance • New technologies and European control = more sea-based trade • Land-based trade declined

36. ‘s Collapse • Inept Rulers • Emperors isolated themselves in the Forbidden City with their luxuries • Ignored the people’s hardships = starvation, cold weather (crop failures), and inability to pay taxes • 1636-1644 = Massive peasant revolt • 1644, a rebel army under Li Zicheng captured Beijing • Emperor Chongzhen hung himself = end of the Ming Dynasty

37. Ming Collapse Western European Influence • 1600’s were a period of rapid decline • 1st Europeans (Portuguese) arrived • Spanish, Dutch, English arrived later • China was too large and powerful to conquer • Europeans used their sea power to control trade and to force concessions from China • Jesuit missionaries tried to convert Chinese peoples to Christianity

38. Ming Collapse Western European Influence • Spain & Portugal provided the most silver to China from Europe • - In the 1600’s, the English & Dutch raided Spanish galleons • - The raids weakened Spanish & Portuguese economic power globally • In 1639, Tokugawa Japan stopped most of its European trade = halted another source of silver from flowing into China • These events caused a dramatic spike in the value of silver • Made it virtually impossible for most tribute states & provinces to pay their taxes • Triggered worldwide inflation = economic shutdown

39. Qing Dynasty 1644-1911 • Peasant revolts were short-lived • Manchus from northeastern China (Manchuria) attacked • Manchus were less than 5% Chinese population

40. Qing Dynasty • Created a new social system • Chinese subjects had to wear certain clothing • Tie their hair into long braids = queues • Males had to shave their foreheads: “lose your hair or lose your head” • Form of subjugation

41. Qing Dynasty • Forbade intermarriage between Manchus & Chinese • Illegal for Chinese to learn the Manchurian language

42. Qing Dynasty • Gunpowder empire = an empire who uses firearms to conquer territories and maintain control; mastery of naval and land-based siege cannons were particularly effective • Qing used cannons effectively against the Mongols • Marked the end of any serious nomadic threat on the inner Asian frontiers

43. Qing Dynasty • Strong Military leaders • Ruled under the Mandate of Heaven • Empire stretched from Manchuria to the island of Formosa (Taiwan) • Controlled Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, Vietnam, and much of Central Asia • Negotiated an acceptable boundary with Russia

44. Qing Dynasty • 2 important emperors • Kangxi (1661-1722) • 1 of the greatest Chinese monarchs • skilled general • patronized the arts & education • Confucian scholar & poet

45. 2 important emperors • Qianlong (1735-1795) • Last intelligent, dynamic, Qing emperor • Strengthened China’s borders • Fostered economic growth • So prosperous, he canceled taxes for awhile because the government didn’t need them • promoted education & culture • Cao Xuequin’s Dream of the Red Chamber was a tragedy about 2 young lovers caught up in a wealthy & powerful clan’s decline Qing Dynasty

46. Qing Dynasty Economics • Full-scale trade with Europeans • Qing maintained a regulation of foreign trade • Limited trade to only 1 city = Guangzhou (Canton) • Important Chinese exports = tea, silk, & porcelain • Few imports were allowed = highly favorable balance of trade

47. Qing Dynasty Economics Read “Mission to China” on page 484 in Glencoe “ You, O King, are so inclined toward our civilization that you have sent a special envoy across the seas…to present your native products as an expression of your thoughtfulness…As a matter of fact, the virtue and prestige of the Celestial Dynasty having spread far and wide, the kings of the myriad nations come by land and sea with all sorts of precious things. Consequently, there is nothing we lack, as your principal envoy and others have themselves observed. We have never set much store on strange or ingenious objects, nor do we need any more of your country’s manufactures.” Emperor Qianlong, 1793

48. Qing Dynasty Economics • How did Emperor Qianlong react to King George III’s letter? • How did the English respond to the Emperor’s statement? • What were the implications of China’s “closed country” policy?

49. Isolationism Qing Dynasty • Limited foreign cultural & economic contact • Tried to prevent Chinese desire of foreign imports • Suspicious of outside influences • Banned Christianity in 1724 • Believed China was superior = center of the world • They called themselves “The Middle Kingdom” • Viewed Europeans as barbarians

50. Qing Dynasty Economics • Like the Ming era, the population grew faster than the economy • 1799, the Chinese population was 300 million; 400 million by the end of the 1800’s • Poverty rose • Chinese were slipping technologically, scientifically, and as a global power • 1800’s, China weakened internally • Deluded by its own grandeur & past accomplishments, Qing leadership did little to modernize China • Europeans forced many economic privileges & concessions out of China