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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
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What were some of the social/economic/political policies of the Hongwu emperor? How would you characterize his rule? How did his policies impact the larger economy? |
His rule was based off the teachings of Confucius. He wanted a self-sufficient China. He distributed land to peasants.The Hongwu Emperor instigated the planting of 50 million trees in the vicinity of Nanjing, reconstructing canals, irrigation, and transporting southern people to the north for repopulation. He successfully managed to increase the population from 60 to 100 million. |
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Where did the Ming overseas expeditions go? How did they compare with contemporary European expeditions? Why did the Chinese discontinue them? |
Brunei, Java, Thailand and Southeast Asia, India, the Horn of Africa, and Arabia, while China was dispensing and receiving goods along the way. |
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Who was Yongle? What was his significance for Chinese history? |
The third emperor of the Ming. He rebelled against the second emperor because he believed he was the correct heir. After usurping the throne he made China more commercialized. He organized expeditions for trade and sent Zheng He to different countries. |
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Discuss differences between north and south China. |
North China was more imperial and more Confucius in their thinking. Since it was closer to where the emperor resided, the northern part of china was more imperial and "civilized" than southern china. The south was more "country". |
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Describe the development of agriculture and industry over the course of the Ming. What were some of the features of this “commercial revolution?” |
Agriculture used to be the main way of supporting families during the early Ming under Hongwu. But, under the Yongle and thereafter, commerce started to become more important. Merchants became wealthier and were rising in the economic ladder.
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How did work change for each of China’s four social classes? Any gender considerations? |
The Shi were the scholars The Nong were farmers The Gong were artisans/farmers The Shang were merchants/Traders All of those positions were mostly male. Females were seen as the ones who took care of the home and weaved. |
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Describe the changes in the relationship between China’s gentry and merchant classes from the beginning to the end of the dynasty. |
The Gentry (nobles) were seeing the merchant calss get wealthier and wealthier as the Ming progressed. Soon the merchants became nobles. |
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What contact did the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch have with Ming China? Why is this contact important? |
The growth of Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch trade created new demand for Chinese products and produced a massive influx of Japanese and American silver. This abundance of specie allowed the Ming to finally avoid using paper money, which had sparked hyperinflation during the 1450s. |
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What did the Zhengde reign signify for many Chinese? |
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What does the rise in connoisseurship tell us about this period? |
Fashion and owning expensive things are becoming more and more popular as commerce and trade become important because the wealthy want to own the best of the best. Therefore connoisseurs are becoming more valued in society. |
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How did publishing change over the course of the Ming? What can we infer from these changes? |
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How and why did the Ming dynasty weaken? Discuss both internal and external factors. |
The famines and starvation played a major part in the end of the Ming. The Chinese armies were being defeated and Li Zecheng's bandit forces (made up of angry and starving citizens) staged a rebellion where they besieged Beijing and the last emperor hung himself. |
