Ming China

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Ming China
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I. Indian Ocean Trade

• Sophisticated Asian sea trading network in place
  by 1400s
• Divided into 3 commercial zones
• Arab, Indian, Chinese
• Not controlled by one central power, military
  largely absent from commercial activities
• Arrival of Portugal and other European powers
  bring big changes
• Very little to trade, oftenused force to obtain
  goods, established tradingposts along coasts

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II. China During the Age of Exploration

• Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
• Dominant Asian power at the time
• Founded by Hongwu, originally a peasant, in 1368
• Sought to restore power of China, erase Mongol
  past
• Encouraged return to Confucian ideas strong
  bureaucracy, examination system
• Cleaned up corruption, expelled foreign officials
  
• Eventually became a tyrant, killing thousands of
  government officials suspected of plotting
  against him
• Yunglo, son of Hongwu, continued to rebuild
  Chinaafter Mongols
• Began (1405) short-lived Chinese age of
  exploration, led by Zheng He and his Treasure
  Fleet
• Established a system of tribute throughout Indian
  Ocean

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II. Continued

• Prosperity, then isolation
• Voyages mysteriously ended in 1433 ships
  destroyed, many records burned
• International trade and commerce become highly
  regulated
• European contact initially brings wealth (new
  crops, silver), but
• Confucian economic policies favored agriculture,
  not international trade
• Instituted policy of isolation - largely cut off
  from outside world because of fear of foreign
  influence, Confucian ideologies
• European contact limited to ports of Macao and
  Canton
• Social inequalities deepen
• Confucian scholar-gentry dominated society
• Did not pay taxes, bought out land from peasants,
  led to feudal-style system
• Very few opportunities for women foot binding
  commonplace

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II. Continued

• Decline of the Ming
• Isolation took its toll on the economy/technologic
  al progress
• Other societies (Europe) began to surpass China
  in power and influence in Indian Ocean
• Corrupt leaders/landowners left society in
  disrepair
• Public works projects abandoned
• Desperate peasants resorted to selling children
  to slavery, cannibalism
• Internal rebellions led to the suicide of last
  Ming emperor, Chongzhen

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EXIT TICKET

• 5-minute quick write
• In what ways could a policy of isolationism have
  both positive and negative consequences for a
  society?