China Limits European Contact

Effects of European Exploration Exploration created trade opportunities (=profits) Asia was the new source of wealth. Europe wanted access to China and Japan

Ming Dynasty Hongwu Reforms: erase Mongol impact Drove the Mongols 1st Ming emperor. Reforms: restore farm land destroyed erase Mongol impact FUN FACT: The Ming capital was moved from Beijing (Yuan Capital) to Nanjing and then back to Beijing The Mongols had defiled the city and it was rebuilt.

Hongwu Returned Confucian moral standards. Restored the merit-based exam system.

Later Rule of Hongwu Ruthless tyrant Paranoid suspected plots against him murdered thousands of officials He was succeeded by his son, Yonglo (yung-lu).

Yonglo moved capital to Beijing. Know as the Forbidden City Fun Fact: built a great palace complex to symbolize his power and might It took 14 years to construct. Know as the Forbidden City commoners/foreigners were not allowed inside Take a Tour (CLICK ME)

Exploration Under Yonglo 1405 Launched the first of 7 voyages of exploration (not for settlement) Before Europe! Wanted to impress outsiders

Exploration Under Yonglo Voyages of Zheng He Chinese Muslim admiral named Led all 7 voyages. Everything about them was LARGE – distance, fleet size, ship size.

Voyages of Zheng He His voyages included: Crew over 27,000 (sailors, soldiers, carpenters, interpreters, accountants, doctors, & religious leaders) Fleet included fighting ships storage vessels treasure ships

Voyages of Zheng He Everywhere he Distributed silver/silk to show Chinese superiority. Scholars felt voyages were a waste of resources After the 7th voyage in 1433 China withdrew/isolation.

China’s Isolation To minimize outside influence only the govt. was allowed to conduct foreign trade. Impact: Smuggling became common

Impacts of China’s Isolation Manufacturing/commerce increased Lack of industrialization (agricultural) Taxes Agricultural goods = low Manufactured goods/imports = high

The Qing Dynasty 1600s Ming dynasty was weakening Overpowered by the Manchus From north of the Great Wall Established the Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty Lasted appx 260 years Expanded territory: Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet. Seen as outsiders Eventually accepted because: Kept many Chinese beliefs Kept social structures.

The Qing Dynasty Established Kangxi (kahng-shee) safety prosperity Most powerful emperor

Kangxi Emperor Ruled for 60+ years. Reforms Reduced government expenses Lowered taxes Put scholars in govt Allowed Jesuit missionaries Brought knowledge of European science, medicine, and math.

Manchus Continue Isolation Foreign countries wanted to trade Forced to follow Chinese rules Only trade at special ports (Canton & Macao) Paying taxes. Dutch accepted Chinese restrictions They were the preferred partner for China

Manchus Continue Isolation Great Britain also wanted access They didn’t like the restrictions The Chinese refused Britain’s request. Emperor declared that China was self-sufficient and didn’t need British goods. Eventually this causes a conflict known as the Opium Wars

Manchus Continue Isolation Europeans would continue to chip away at China’s trade restrictions until the empire began to crack. By the early 1800s, European pressure forced China to open to foreign trade and influence.