Traditions in China…

Ming and Qing Dynasties Practiced isolationism Did not want influence from the West Put trade restrictions and regulations on trade from the West Were self-sufficient Not interested in “strange objects”

Social Classes Emperor Scholars Gentry = wealthy land owners Peasants Artisans and merchants Soldiers

Marriage Parents arranged marriages Lived with husband’s family NO divorces!

WORK Peasants rented land Children worked as soon as they walked Worked all day Children worked as soon as they walked

CHILDEN & ELDERLY Birth of a girl was not celebrated Not given name until 1 month old “The bamboo stick makes a good child”

Family Respect Children learn from birth that family interests come before your own Parents expected and got complete obedience Family’s worship their ancestors and have ceremonies for them

Family Life Family is most important thing in life Respect elders Women obey men, but kids respect mom Many generations of one family lived together to survive Oldest male is in charge

Role of Women Chinese valued girls for work and childbearing Did not celebrate the birth of a girl When married, a woman becomes part of his family A young bride must obey her mother-in-law and husband (she can’t criticize either of them) Birth of a son = respect (birth of girl is ignored) 950AD = binding feet because small feet were considered more desirable for men and possible husband (very painful!) Small feet = more beautiful

GOVERNACE Family Dynasties controlled regions within the country-Passed Down Emperor was a distant figure Peasants had absolutely no say

EDUCATION Only wealthy boys were educated Peasants were easily cheated by anyone who could read and add

HEALTH & HYGIENE Many food shortages Doctors very far away “Foot binding”

Binding Feet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmOqpoDFEw

BINDING FEET FOR WOMEN Having tiny feet was a sign of beauty and wealth and men were attracted to women with small feet.   Foot Binding is an attempt to stop growing your feet and usually began between the ages of four and seven. A ten foot long bandage was wrapped tightly around the foot. This bandage forced the four small toes to go under the bottom of the foot. This made the foot become more narrow, but also shorter because it forced the big toe and the heel of the foot to become closer together by bowing the arch of the foot. An ideal foot should be no longer than three inches. The clef between the heel and the sole should be two to three inches deep. Finally, the foot should appear as an extension of the leg, rather than a stand for the body. To achieve the perfect foot, girls would walk long distances so their own body weight would crush the foot into its deformed shape. After two years of extreme pain, you would get a tiny pair of folded feet, but become unable to move normally. The tradition is carried out for ten years to make sure the toes stay in place.

STANDARD OF LIVING Tax collectors came every month Families shared one-room hut

China’s Self-sufficiency Agricultural economy Mining and manufacturing industry- salt, tin, silver, iron. Produced silks, cottons, and fine porcelain SO- they had little interested in trading with the West How do the European get the Chinese to increase trade with them?

Opium War British begin selling Opium to the Chinese By 1835, 12 million Chinese were addicted to the drug. Opium caused great social, moral, and monetary problems for China. Emperor desired to stop trade, but the British refused. Opium War breaks out between the Chinese and British BRITISH WIN! And get: Hong Kong $Access to more Chinese ports Makes more money as Opium trade still continues

Opium Field Opium Dens – Unproductive men

War!

Other foreigners enter China now…

Boxer Rebellion Poor peasants and workers resented foreigners Began a campaign against the Empress and foreigners by attacking European section of Beijing People killed on the streets and in hotels Boxers were eventually defeated by the Europeans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4QdEKjEg88

Boxers

Foreign soldiers take back China and gets rid of Boxers

Boxers try to take back the cities from foreigners. Foreigners squash the Boxers and take back the city of Peking.

Results of the Boxer Rebellion Chinese Boxers lost but a strong sense of nationalism had emerged China must resist foreign intervention The government must become responsive to the needs of the people Chaos in China for years over who would lead next Internal fighting leads to the rise of nationalist leader, Chaing Kai-Shek, who wants to unify China but other groups fight against him including communists led by Mao Zedong