China in the Pre-Modern Era

1450-1750

1. What are people doing in this painting?

2. 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

• Planted in flooded fields called “paddies”• Need heavy rainfall

• Rice is a primary food crop in East/South Asia

• Asia produces 90%

XIA DYNASTY

• c. 2000 – 1700 B.C.E.

• Supposedly founded by Yu the Great

• Based on legend – may not have existed

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

continued

• 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

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.)

3,610 miles (5,808 km)

Past San Francisco

3,095 miles (4, 980 km.)

New York Paris

San Francisco Boston

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.

continued

• 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

Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange

• European conquest of European conquest of the new world brought the new world brought changes on all sideschanges on all sides

• Movement of goods and Movement of goods and ideas from each side is ideas from each side is called the called the Columbian Columbian ExchangeExchange

• 3 most important crops 3 most important crops to Asia:to Asia:

MaizeMaize Sweet PotatoesSweet Potatoes PeanutsPeanuts

• New crops improved diet New crops improved diet and increased and increased populations worldwidepopulations worldwide

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

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

continued

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

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

• 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

• Chinese vessels dwarfed European ships

• Europeans were no match for Chinese ships

Chinese ships = 440 feet; Columbus’ ship = 75 feet

• 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

• 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

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

Art

Exquisite glassware = porcelain

-China is synonymous with dishware

Scroll painting = depicted landscapes, historical events, and nature

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

Matteo Ricci showed a similar map to the Chinese. The map significantly influenced Chinese cartography.

What’s wrong with #6 on this map?

It shows New Guinea too close to South America

Abraham Ortelius Map, 1570

• 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

• 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

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

Factors that led to the Ming’s decline:

1. Climate change

2. Nomadic invasions

3. Pirates

4. Decline of the Silk Road

5. Inept rulers

6. Western European Influence

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

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)

Pirates

Chinese and Japanese pirates attacked Chinese ships entering/leaving Chinese ports

Decline of the Silk Road

• The Silk Road declined in importance

• New technologies and European control = more sea-based trade

• Land-based trade declined

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

‘s Collapse

• 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

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

Western European Influence

• Peasant revolts were short-lived

• Manchus from northeastern China (Manchuria) attacked

• Manchus were less than 5% Chinese population

1644-1911

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

• Forbade intermarriage between Manchus & Chinese

• Illegal for Chinese to learn the Manchurian language

• 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

• 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

2 important emperors

• Kangxi (1661-1722)

-1 of the greatest Chinese monarchs

- skilled general

- patronized the arts & education

- Confucian scholar & poet

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

• 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

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

1. How did Emperor Qianlong react to King George III’s letter?

2. How did the English respond to the Emperor’s statement?

3. What were the implications of China’s “closed country” policy?

• 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

• 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

• Qianlong was the last great Chinese emperor

• Incompetent rulers followed

• Government was riddled with corruption

• Border defense became too costly

• Several peasant revolts broke out

• 1796-1804 = White Lotus Rebellion took years to suppress

• China was still too strong to conquer

• Still enjoyed an enormous advantage in its balance of trade

• Europeans demanded silk, tea, porcelain & paid in silver

• Europeans could only trade in a small number of ports

• Limited European imports

• Europeans paid in silver bullion

• Europeans had stronger navies, better weapons, and more effective armies

• 1700’s, the Chinese were using opium on a small scale

• 1820’s, the British East India Company began flooding China with opium grown in northeastern India

• Opium became very popular in China

• The British East India Company made enormous profits • Reversed the balance of trade shifted in Britain’s favor

• Silver bullion flowed out of China rapidly

• France, Portugal, & the U.S. sold opium to China also

• Britain controlled 80% of the opium trade

• The Qing govt made opium illegal

• Opium addiction decreased economic productivity

• Millions of workers & farmers were too incapacitated to work

• Govt arrested dealers, seized opium supplies, & intercepted drug boats

“The foreigners have brought us a disease which will dry up our bones, a worm that gnaws at our hearts, a ruin to our families and persons. It means the destruction of the soul of our nation.”

Qing government official

Barron’s AP World History, p 274)

• 1839, the Chinese navy blockaded Guangzhou (Canton)• Sparked the 1st Opium War between Britain & China• The British won • Treaty of Nanking

- China paid for the cost of the war & the destroyed opium- Chinese opened 5 ports to foreign trade- lowered tariffs on British goods- granted Britain extraterritorial rights to areas in China where the British worked & lived = British law was supreme in these areas- Hong Kong was given to Britain

• More conflicts

• Future treaties legalized the opium trade, opened more ports to foreign trade, & granted greater powers to the Europeans, Americans, & Russians

• Several extraterritorial territories were established along the Chinese coast

Spheres of influence

• area of economic influence/control

• established in China in the 19th Century

• allowed foreigners to take advantage of a weakened China & to seize control of their tributary states (example, France took Vietnam in 1885)

• eventually Western powers gained exclusive trading rights in China

• Chinese nationalism increased in response to Western influence

• Serious internal problems erupted in the late Qing dynasty

• 1850-1864, The Taiping Rebellion = the most costliest and the most devastating civil war in world history

• 20-30 million dead

• 2nd deadliest war in world history

• Increased unrest & Chinese nationalism

What was the deadliest war?

WWII

• Hong Xiuquan, a Cantonese clerk started the uprising--he failed the civil service exam

• Hong Xiuquan believed that he was destined to create a taiping = “heavenly kingdom of supreme peace”

• Appealed to 1000s of ordinary Chinese people

• Protested the high taxes, absolute Qing rule, and “foreign” Manchu rule

• New vision of China

- Redistribution of land

- public education

- women’s rights

• An American mercenary, Frederick Townsend Ward, and a British general, Charles “Chinese” Gordon helped crush the rebellion

• The Taiping Rebellion left China in ruins

• The Qing lost several tribute states (Tibet, the Gobi Desert, Chinese Turkestan)

• Between 1878-1904, the dowager (wealthy & powerful widow) Empress Cixi ruled through her nephew

Opposed to modernization

Oppressive rule

Opposed all reform – arrested her nephew & executed leaders of the 100 Days’ Reform and

• 1895 Japan defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War

• U.S. Open Door Policy

- All Western nations gained = access to Chinese markets

- Increased foreign control in China

• 1800’s-1900’s: Foreign missionary activity in creased

- Catholic & Protestant missionaries spread Christianity, Western languages and culture

- Interfered and eroded Chinese culture

- Brought scientific & technological knowledge

- Treated diseases & injuries with modern medicines

- Helped eliminate footbinding

• In 1900, China suffered a major drought

• High urban unemployment & crop failures

• Caused widespread anger with foreign influence

• Boxer Rebellion = a revolt led by many rebel leaders who were “boxers” or martial arts experts

• Rebels attacked foreign residents and embassies

• Combined foreign army crushed the rebellion and burned several Chinese temples

• Westerners forced the Qing to pay a heavy financial penalty

• 1905, Empress Cixi created a commission to decide if they should write a constitution

• Local assemblies were formed

• Planned to elect national assemblies in 1910

• Reform efforts were too late

• Chinese youths opposed Manchu rule

• Sun-Yat Sen = “Father of Modern China”

• Formed the Revolutionary Alliance; 3 ideas called the “People’s Principles”

Nationalism = oppose Manchu rule

Democracy

People’s Livelihood

• 1911, the Qing Dynasty collapsed

• 1912, Sun Yat-sen was elected president of the Chinese Republic

• His party was called the Nationalist Party = Kuomintang

• 1st time in Chinese history = A Chinese politician elected by the people ruled China, not by foreign conquest or dynastic rule

• The republic was short-lived

• Sun Yat-sen was forced to step down in 1912

• 1912-1948, China was in chaos

• 1949 = Communist government established

Dynasty Song

(Sung to the tune of Fr’er Jacques)

Shang, Zhou, Qin Han (Shang, Jo, Chin Han)

Shang, Zhou, Qin Han

Sui, Tang, Song (Swe, Tong, Soong)

Sui, Tang, Song

Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic (You-an, Ming, Ching, Republic)

Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic

Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-dong)

Deng Xiaoping (Deng Shao-ping)