EASTERN EURASIA

1500-1800Chapter 22 Notes

NEW PATTERNS OF CONTACT IN EURASIA After the Mongols, no single power

controlled Central Asia, and no unified economic policy protected and promoted trade.

Also, the sea trade replaced the old overland trade route through Central Asia.

Land-based empires of Eurasia (Ottoman, Russian, Mughal, and Ming) were at a disadvantage in the competition with sea-based empires of Europe.

NEW GLOBAL INFLUENCES Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

Often preceded traders, explorers, & conquerorsFrancis Xavier, Matteo RicciMost prominent transmitter of European science

and technology to China and of Chinese philosophy and literature to Europe

East India CompaniesDutch East India Company(VOC) secured favor

in China and JapanEast India Company of England was VOC’s

biggest rival These groups became conduits of trade and

knowledge between Asia and Europe.

TRIUMPH OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

RISE OF ROMANOV POWER After end of Mongol power in Russia,

power moved from Kiev to Moscow. Muscovy prince Ivan IV (the Terrible)

took title tsar in 1547 and extended Russia’s borders to east and north.

“Time of Troubles” included internal struggles as well as external wars.

Mikhail Romanov started a new dynasty which lasted until 1917.

Romanovs saw the east as their only option for expansion.

RUSSIANS AND TURKS Surrounding Russia to the north, east,

and parts of south were Turkic people. Russian and Turkic peoples cooperated

but were suspicious of one another. Hostility increased when Ottomans

emerged as a great power in the region. Cossacks demonstrate a way Russia

combined elements considered “Turk” with those considered “Russian.”Military skills of Asian horsemenRussian-speakers, Christians, helped build

Russian empire

COSSACK

PETER THE GREAT Ottoman War

Wanted warm-water port on Black SeaLiberate Istanbul Protector of Orthodox Christians in BalkansFailed – but idea remained

Great Northern WarBroke Swedish control of Baltic SeaEstablished direct contacts between Russia

and Europe

PETER THE GREAT

PETER THE GREAT St. Petersburg

Built on land taken from Sweden, became Russia’s capital

Built in style of Western Europe – Russia’s “window to the west”

Nobles forced to wear western clothes and shave, ended seclusion of upper-class women

AutocracyPeter wanted to break power of boyars.Brought Russian Orthodox Church under

state control Increased burdens of taxes and forced labor

on the serfs

SHEREMETEV PALACE, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD, ST. PETERSBURG

RUSSIAN DRIVE EASTWARD Ivan IV began Russian exploration of

SiberiaFurs & timber first valuable resourcesAfter 1700 gold, coal, & iron became

important.From early 1600s used as a penal colony

Rivalry with Qing ChinaTreaties finally set official bordersAllowed Russia to expand to the Pacific

North AmericaAdded AlaskaRussian traders active along entire western

coast of North America

RUSSIAN EXPANSION TO 1796

THE LATER MING AND EARLY QING EMPIRES,1500-1800

THE END OF THE MING Ming manufacturers had transformed

the global economy with their techniques for the assembly-line production of porcelain.

Europeans loved the blue-on-white porcelain and traders requested special European designs.

This market for porcelain and other Chinese goods stimulated the commercial development of East Asia, the Indian Ocean, and Europe.

MING PORCELAIN

THE END OF THE MING Natural disasters Climate change Agricultural distress Uprisings Inflation (Despite influx of silver, the Ming

government maintained a strict ratio in price between silver and copper coins.)

Porcelain factories plagued by disorder and inefficiency

Slow introduction of foods from Americas and Africa

THE END OF THE MING Under pressure from powerful Mongol

federations of Central AsiaMongols had unified under Tibetan

Buddhism.Khan designated a dalai lama, or universal

teacher to legitimize his rule. Japanese warriors invaded Korea (a

Chinese tributary state)Manchus contributed troops (at a high cost

for impoverished Ming) to help stop invasion

Korea’s “turtle boats” stopped the invasion but both Korea and Ming were weakened.

KOREAN “TURTLE BOAT”

THE END OF THE MING Rebellious forces captured Beijing. Imperial family fled city. Ming general invited Manchus to take

Beijing from rebels. Qing did this but kept power rather than

restoring Ming. Ming imperial family appealed to Pope

for help. Dead before Pope’s response arrived.

POWER & TRADE IN THE EARLY QING The Qing Empire was ruled by a Manchu

imperial family and Manchus were the leaders of the military forces.

While it was a diverse empire, the overwhelming majority of officials, soldiers, merchants, and farmers were Chinese.

Spread into south China and Central Asia.

Fostered economic and demographic recovery.

Foreign trade was encouraged.

QING EMPIRE, 1820

EMPEROR KANGXI Became emperor as a child (1662). In 1669, at 16, he gained control over the

government by executing his chief regent. Intellectual prodigy Successful military commander

Personally led troops in bringing Mongolia under Qing control.

Battled with and then made peace with Russian Empire

Died in 1722, reign marked by expansion and stability in the empire

EMPEROR KANGXI

EMPEROR KANGXI Part of the effectiveness of the Kangxi

era was due to Qing willingness to incorporate ideas/technologies from other regions.Mongol system of political organizationKorean and Chinese agricultural practices Jesuit influence

Maps in European style Considered European calendar but faced strong

opposition Medical expertise Anatomical & pharmaceutical knowledge Mathematics, astronomy, European civilization

EMPEROR KANGXI To gain converts among Chinese elite,

Jesuits made compromises in their religious teaching. Most important was toleration of Confucian

ancestor worship Caused conflict with Catholic rivals in China

and Pope Chinese knowledge brought to Europe by

Jesuits Early form of inoculation that eventually

inspired vaccines Porcelain factories

TEA AND DIPLOMACY Success of Qing caused admiration in

Europe. Demand for Chinese goods

Silk, porcelain, teaWallpaperChinese produce items especially for Europe

Admiration for Chinese philosophyVoltaire proclaimed Qing emperors model

philosopher-kings and advocated such rulership

Desire for communications with China

TEA AND DIPLOMACY Qing were eager to expand China’s

economic influence but were determined to control trade very strictly.Allowed imperial family to enjoy benefits of

taxationLimited piracy and smuggling

To regulate trade, Qing allowed only one market point for each trading sector.

This system worked well for European traders until the late 1700s.

TEA AND DIPLOMACY British had become a important presence in

East Asia. Tea from China became enormously popular

in Britain. English traders felt the Qing system hindered

their opportunities to make money from the millions of potential Chinese consumers.

British government was concerned about the massive trade deficit with China.

Sent George Macartney to open diplomatic relations with China and revise the trade system.

TEA AND DIPLOMACY Maccartney mission was a complete

fiasco!Chinese would not allow Maccartney to

travel to Beijing.Maccartney refused to perform the kowtow,

and Chinese officials refused to bow to a portrait of the king of England.

The basic issues were unresolvable. Dutch, French, & Russian officials also

failed to achieve changes in trade. European attitudes toward China began

to shift.

LORD MACCARTNEY AND EMPEROR QIANLONG

POPULATION & SOCIAL STRESS Massive population growth due to new

crops and Qing peace. Qing had outgrown government.

Same number of officials as Ming with twice the land and four times the population

Couldn’t keep up with repairs and environmental issues

Led to misery in many parts of interior China Qing fell victim to basic problems of land-

based empires. Conquered huge stretch of territory to

defend itself against Russia Costs of maintaining territory was enormous.

DECENTRALIZATION AND INNOVATION IN TOKUGAWA JAPAN, TO 1800

SHOGUNATE AND ECONOMY Japan’s centralized political system had

broken down in the 12th century, when the first of the decentralized military governments – the shogunates – had been created.

In 1600 a new shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, declared victory.

The emperor of Japan had no political power; he remained at Kyoto the medieval capital.

SHOGUNATE AND ECONOMY The Tokugawa shoguns built a new

capital for themselves at Edo (now Tokoyo).

The shogun was served by the regional lords, each of who maintained a castle town, a small bureaucracy, a population of warriors – samurai – and military support personnel.

The shoguns paid the lords in rice, and the lords paid their followers in rice. Recipients had to convert a large portion of their rice to cash.

SHOGUNATE AND ECONOMY This system led to well-spaced urban

centers. Good roads, traffic, and commerce

linked Edo to three of the four main islands of Japan.

Rice exchanges developed at Edo and Osaka, where merchants speculated in rice prices.

TOKAGAWA IEYASU

TOKAGAWA WOODCUT

THE “CLOSING” OF JAPAN Like China, Japan was a target of

missionary activity by the Jesuits. Converts among the elite were few, and

the shogunal court at Edo was consistently hostile to Christianity.

Christianity was more successful among the farmers in the countryside. The Jesuits had their greatest success in the southern and eastern regions of Japan.

THE “CLOSING” OF JAPAN In the late 1630s, these regions were

the scenes of massive uprisings by impoverished farmers.

The rebellions, which were ruthlessly suppressed were blamed on Christian influence.Hundreds of Japanese Christians were

crucified.Belief in Christianity was banned by law. It became punishable by death for

foreigners to come to Japan or for Japanese to leave.

THE “CLOSING OF JAPAN” The purpose of the closing was to

prevent the spread of foreign influence in Japan – not to exclude from Japan knowledge of foreign cultures.

A few Dutch were permitted to trade in Japan, and a few Japanese were licensed to provide for them.

The western knowledge they acquired spread.

ELITE DECLINE & SOCIAL CRISIS Population growth put a great strain on

the well-developed lands of central Japan.

Government was unable to stabilize rice prices which weakened the samurai.

Like other Confucian societies, the Tokugawa tried to limit the power of merchants.

The crisis of Tokugawa Japan’s transformation from a military to a civil society is demonstrated by the “Forty-seven Ronin” incident of 1702.

NIGHT ATTACK OF THE 47 RONIN