-
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
What in the World?
-
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Social Change in the Ming & Qing dynasties
Chinese society was hierarchial and patriarchal, attempts to keep Chinese traditions alive and well
-Families organized into clans
-Filial Piety, commands utmost respect towards one's parents, was the basis of family structure, children were recquired to look after their parents and put their parents interests first
-Women greatly suppressed more than ever during this time, females considered liabilities and vicitms of infanticide, had no rights, foot binding gained in popularity -
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Scholar Bureacrats and Civil Service Examinations
Through out this period there still was the system of Scholar Bureacrats and Civil Service Examinations. Scholar Bureacrats were men that had passed the Civil Service Exams and dominated social and political life who dealt with day to day governance. To prepare for Civil Service Exams they studied the works of Confucious, as well as other written work. The tests lasted 3 days and 2 nights under tense and grueling circumstances. -
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Emperor- The Son of Heaven
The Emperor of China during this time was considered the "Son of Heaven" meaning that he was designated by a higher power to rule China
-Lived inside the Forbidden City and had his desires looked after
-His wardrobe and written characters of his name could not be mimiced or copied, they was exclusively for him
-The few who gained personal audience with him had to perform the kowtow ritual
-Minor offenses often resulted in severe punishments, even the the highest official could be punished -
Jan 1, 1499
1449 Ming Emperor Kidnapped-Begin Decline of Ming Dynasty
In 1449 The Ming Emperor is Kidnapped by the Mongol forces, showing the Ming dynasty was weak against foreign invasions. After this there was great enthusiasm to protect the emperor and strengthn the country, including expanding the Wall of China, restoring Chinese cultural traditions, and restoring the Chinese civil service exams. This rigor of improvement did not last beyond the sixteenth century, when the Ming dynasty enters a state of decline from which it will not recover from. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Population Growth
Despite living an environment that fostered deaths, because of the black plague and other epidemic diseases, the population of China was able to increase by 60 million people. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Return of Christianity
Christianity disappeared from China in the fourteenth century after the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty and the epidemic diseases. However, in the sixteenth century missionaries were back in China trying to spread the Roman Catholic faith. The missionaries tried to capture Chinese interest through science, technology, and portraying Christianity as similar to Chinese traditions. They tried to say the Christianity would return China to more of its traditional Confucianism background then neo-Conf -
Period: Jan 1, 1520 to
Ming Dynasty Decline and Collapse
Reasons for Ming Dynasty Decline:
-(1520's-1560's) Pirates rampage China, causing major disruption and chaos, government too weak to stop them.
-(1572-1620) Emperor Wanli reigns, refuses to meet with government offcials instead works with eunuchs, which result in gained power and corruption for them
-(early 1600's) Famine strikes China and hits the peasant class hard
-(1630s) Peasants organize revolts throughout China, going so far to capture Beijing in 1644 -
Period: Jan 1, 1552 to
Matteo Ricci
One of the most prominent Jesuit (Roman Catholic) missionaries in China was Matteo Ricci. He tried to spread Christianity in China starting with the Emperor, Emperor Wanli. To gain the citizens trust and form relationships he learned and perfected Chinese. Ricci wrote The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven which was important because he argued that the doctrines of Confucius and Jesus were nearly identical and therefore Christianity was a better option then neo-Confucianism in China. -
The Art of Printing
Primary Source:
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/ric-prt.html
This except is one example of the writings that Matteo Ricci produced while he was in China. While most of his works had to do with Christianity (because he was a Jesuit Missionary) this one reflects on the art of printing in China. This document stated the differences that Ricci found in China’s printing from Europe’s. This document makes a global connection and shows China's influence with printing. -
Period: to
Confucian Social Hierarchy
There was a revision to the social hierarchy in China during the late Ming and Qing Dynasties. There was the privileged class, gentry, peasants, artisans and workers, and merchants. The working class consisted of the peasants who included day laborers, tenant farmers, and petty landlords. Even though the peasants were the poorest class they were considered the most honorable out of the bottom three social classes because they provided the food and labor to fuel the entire country. Not include -
Qing Dynasty is Founded
-1644 The Manchus ally with the Ming government to crush rebellion. Once rebellion crushed, they neglected to restore Ming rule and moved their own government to Beijing.
-Once in power they were careful to perserve their own cultural identity and restricted Chinese rights (weren't allowed to inter marry with Manchus or learn Manchurian language).
-Two effective rulers with long reigns set the tone for the dynasty: Kangxi (1661-1722) and Qianlong (1736-1795),who marked the height of Qing dynasty -
Period: to
Population Growth
As a result of war and rebellion in c.1650 China’s population actually decreased. However, by 1700 the population was restored to 160 million people which was the same population as in 1600. By 1750 China’s population was 225 million which equated to a 40% increase in half of century. However, the increase in population associated problems in the future. They would not be able to keep pace in agricultural production with the rising population. -
Restriction of Trade
During the end of the Qing Dynasty the government tried to end maritime activity altogether. In 1656 an imperial edict banned anything, even a plank, from traveling on the sea and Emperor Kangxi backed up this edict in 1661 when he evacuated the Southern Coastal regions. Even though maritime trade was forbidden Chinese vessels continued to trade with Japan. In 1680 the Qing Dynasty removed some of its regulations, but only permitted Portuguese merchants to operate only at the port of Macau. -
Period: to
Emperor Kangxi
Kangxi reign started when he was eight years old and lasted for 61 years, the longest reign in Chinese history at the time. Emperor Kangxi is known for the accumulation of wealth and peace and prosperity that China had. In 1661 ordered evacuation of the Southern Coastal regions in attempt to end maritime trade. His order had limited effect because the Chinese vessels disregarded his rule and continued to trade with Japan and Southeast Asian ports. -
Opium Trade
The opium trade came about within China around 1759 when the British were trying to find another commodity besides bullion for Chinese goods.The British trade opium for Chinese silver coin. The trade expanded rapidly and allowed the British East India Company to perches Chinese luxury goods more easily. Because the Chinese authority did not enforce laws that made the trade illegal,opium addiction spread and led to the Opium wars. -
Qianlong on Chinese Trade With England
Primary Source This is an example of the strict regulations that the Qing Dynasty imposed on maritime trade. In this letter the Qing administrations make it clear that England has no right to trade at any port other than Guangzhou. This letter to the king of England, King George, shows that the Qing Dynasty was not afraid of loosing their diplomatic relations over foreign trade policies. -
Opium War
The Opium war was fought between the years of 1839 to 1842. The war was basically fought to reopen the Opium trade within China. The Chinese confiscated and destroyed opium crates bound for English merchants in China. This war made it very clear that Europe had a far superior military than the Chinese. China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking which changed territorial rights and and gave it to England. -
Letter of Lin Zexu to Queen Victoria
Primary Source This letter to Great Britain’s Queen, Queen Victoria, shows the efforts Chinese officials were putting in to end the importation of Opium in China. This letter was drafted and written by Lin Zexu on behalf of Emperor Daoguang. This letter shows that the Chinese recognized the dangers and perils associated with Opium and that they were attempting to stop the Opium Trade in China. -
Treaty of Nanking
The idea of an unequal treaty started with Chinas defeat in the Opium wars. The Treaty of Nanking became the most infamous treaty in China. This treaty was completely one sided in favor of the English. China was first forced to pay reparations to the English and to give the Hong Kong islands to the English. China was forced to open its sea ports to foreign traders. This treaty also made China legalize the Opium trade. Many other treaties with England, and other powers proved to be as unequal. -
Taiping Rebllion
The Taiping Rebellion was one of the bloodiest civil wars in world history.It was fought between the Qing Dynasty and Christian rebels in the China.The rebels were led by Hong Xiuquan who believed he was the younger brother of Christ. The war lasted 21 years because it sparked many other uprising across the country.This war was caused by discontent of the Chinese people against their weak government. -
Self Strengthening Movement
The Self Strengthening Movement flourished from1860 to 1895. This movement was empowered by imperial grants which permitted troops to be raised, levy taxes, run bureaucracies, and to promote economic reforms. This movement sought to blend Chinese culture with western industrialization. -
Spheres of Influence
The European empires began to colonize the Asian continent. Chinas tributary nations were soon incorporated into European colonies. China was then split into economic spheres of influence. Unable to resist, the Qing dynasty gave certain lands to the Europeans, rights to railroads, and resources allowed the Middle Kingdom survived because of distrust among the imperial powers. -
Hundred days Reform
-The Hundred Days Reform came about after many setbacks in China.
-Led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao and wished to get rid of an agrarian society, create a industrial society, root out corruption, modernize military.
-Unfortunately the Empress repealed reforms, executed reformers and imprisoned emperor -
Boxer Rebellion
-Empress gave her support to anti foreigners group
-Organization called them selves the Society of the Righteous
-Boxers rampaged through china killing Christians and foreigners
-boxers were confident that western weapons could not hurt them laid siege to foreign embassies
-western forces quickly put down rebellion
-Qing dynasty was now viewed as bankrupt and open rebellions started causing the Empress to abdicate