East Asian Withdrawal into Isolation

At a time of European Expansion

Ming and Qing ChinaAnd the End of the Great Ming Naval Expeditions

A Brief History of China What is a dynasty?

• In sports? Dynasty:

• A line of people from the same family who rule a country

China’s history is a history of dynasties

Begins with the Qin dynasty – 221 BC• United various kingdoms

Last two: Ming & Qing

The Ming Dynasty 1368 – 1644 Begins when Ming Hong

Wu overthrows Mongols Accomplishments

• Expanded territory• Strengthened Great Wall• Naitonwide School system• Bureaucratic government• Improved Infrastructure• Expanded Navy

Then Disbanded Navy…

Reign of Yong Le Emperor Yong Le 1402

– 1424• “Perpetual happiness”

Led many of the great Ming accomplishments• Moved capital from

Nanjing to Beijing• Construction of the

Imperial City• Grand Canal• Sponsored naval

voyages to Africa

Zheng He’s 7 Voyages Yong Le sponsored 7

naval voyages to Africa Led by Zheng He Sailed in LARGE ships

called junks Established trade in

Africa & India Brought back riches &

exotic animals from Inda & Africa

BEFORE Europeans found sea passage around Africa

End of the Ming Naval Expeditions

Voyage stop after Yong Le’s death

More traditional Chinese bureaucrats in charge of gov’t

Main reasons: Voyages were costly – money

and lives Diverted attention away from

immediate domestic/security concerns – Mongols• Rather strengthen Great Wall

Trade seen as an inferior occupation

Continued Isolation Portuguese arrive in 1541

• Establish trade• First contact w/ Europe in

long time• Christianity introduced

Chinese not bothered at first

Portuguese later expelled Further trade greatly

restricted

Fall of the Ming Ming dynasty falls in

1644• Incompetent, young rulers• Corruption & high taxes• Famine & sickness

1644 peasant revolts force Ming out of China• Emperor commits suicide

Peasants now control China• Opportunity??

The Qing Dynasty Manchus from the North soon

march on Beijing• Easily defeat unorganized

peasants• Announce new Dynasty: Qing or

“pure” Force Manchu culture on

Chinese• Queues

Eventually restore peace and end economic/social problems

The Tokugawa ShogunateAnd Japan’s Isolation

Japan’s Feudal System For centuries Japan

operated according to a strict feudal system

Emperor/Shogun at top• Shogun = Supreme millitary

commander Daimyo next

• Ruled the different territories like governors

Samurai• Warrior class

Farmers, Artisans, Merchants at bottom• In that order!

Japan’s Han System Japan was divided into

250 “hans” or territories Each was controlled by

a different Daimyo But Daimyo were not all

loyal to the Emperor Samurai were loyal to

respective Daimyo Led to much Civil War Land disputes & power

struggles for centuries

Unification of Japan 3 Great Unifiers

• Oda Nobunaga• Toyotomi Hideyoshi• Tokugawa Ieyasu

Unite Japan through military measures and economic improvements

Tokugawa Ieyasu completes unification• Family rules Japan from

1603 – 1868• “Tokugawa Shogunate”• “Edo Period” or “Great

Peace”

Threats to Japan’s new Stability How to keep Daimyo loyal? Hostage System

• Daimyo had to maintain two homes External threats Christianity

• Rulers fearful that citizens’ allegiances would be with the West (Christianity)

Technology• Rulers fearful that western tech

would fall into the wrong hands Edicts issued in 1635 that

essentially ban all foreign trade (coming in and going out)