Ming China
*Mughal India
Emperor, "Son of Heaven"
Central bureaucracy in the capital
Six Ministries: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works
Local administration
Prefectures divided into Counties
Civil service exams
Confucian education
Refined hobbies
*Matteo Ricci
Emperor Yongle (r. 1403-24)
*Grand Canal
*Beijing, 1420
*Forbidden City
Video: The Forbidden City
What role did the imperial palace play in projecting dynastic power?
7 Voyages to Indian Ocean, 1405-33
*Zheng He (1371-1433)
250-300 ships
28,000 men
Lower Yangzi Region
Industries
Silk textiles
Porcelain
Cooling of climate, 17th c.
Decrease of silver in world economy, 1630s
Tax revenues decrease
Peasant rebellions, 1630s
Beijing captured in 1644
1. Why were Chinese governments able to control large empires? Consider factors such as the organization of imperial government, selection of officials to serve in government, and transportation networks.
2. What role did the Forbidden City play in projecting dynastic power?
2. Why did Ming China go into decline despite its commercial prosperity?
1. What was the impact of European merchants and missionaries, such as Matteo Ricci, on the empires of China and India?
1. According to Pomeranz, why didn't the Chinese government rule the seas? Why do you think that Chinese governments chose to expand over land rather than over sea?
2. How did Chinese merchants obtain ships and carry out overseas trade?
1. Why were the Chinese capital, Beijing, and Mughal Indian capital, Delhi, bigger than Western European cities such as Paris?