Pyramid Shaped Societies in China and China’s Long Modernization

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