Essay on modern China:

Why China was a preeminent power:

Agriculture:
Founder of Ming Dynasty was Zhu Yuanzhang.
He was born into a peasant family so he understood the importance of
agriculture, which shaped his conservative vision of the government.
He thought the main responsibility of the state was to protect the farmers of
China, who in turn would provide the revenues for the country.
Designed fiscal system (for an unchanging agrarian economy, contrasting that of
a commercialized market system that existed at the time)
Fiscal system = gave central government knowledge of every individual in
household and their landholdings. These individual families were required to
perform labor obligations depending on their assigned category.
Registration was for tax purposes and was prompted due to loss of revenue in
previous years.
Neglected dikes and canals were restored and abandoned land was used for
cultivation.
Rejuvenation of agriculture = China restore its economic situation.
Ming Era = Enormous extension of land was used for agriculture, large scale
agriculture proved that china did not need to import food from other countries
and were fairly self-sufficient.

Trade:
Trade had expanded vastly during Mongols but Ming dynasty established firm
control over sea trade with international countries.
This encouraged Japanese piracy, which reached its height in 1550s.
Legitimate trade was promoted and was known as Tally trade.
Tally Trade = only permitted to occur on one port, Ningpo, where the tallies
would be checked by Chinese officials.
The cost of transport drained the Chinese treasury and trade was replaced by
piracy.
Due to conservative nature of Chinese government, it took longer for silver to
reach China.
However bye 1600, land taxes were paid in silver. During Qing era products such
as porcelain and silk were traded and exchanged for silver to European
aristocrats.
Along with new world came new crops such as corn and potatoes.
China could now be seen as the hub of world trade, proving that once it
reluctantly started trade with European countries it could be a preeminent
power.

Culture:
Ming era adopted the Neo-Confucian curriculum of the Mongols. social
leadership depended on learning and moral excellence.
Chinese were very interested in western science and technology fueled by
Jesuit Missionaries.
Jesuit missionaries bought with them the understanding of mathematics,
astronomy and cartography.
China exchanged ideas of suspension bridge building.
China acquired the idea of Christianity, world geography and scientific
knowledge of the west.
Major aspect of culture during Ming = Architectural substance. Eg. Forbidden
city, which began in 1421, and Great Wall of China.
Chinese culture diffused into Europe.

Society:
Nationalism was high and Chinese empire was unified.
Chinese society was patriarchal and believed in ancestor worship.
Society = different to those in European nations.
Mote stated that population oh China in the middle of 17
th
century was
approximately 250 million.
Large population = Chinas growth was steady, reflecting a stable society.
Reason for Growth = no nationwide epidemics and internal conflict/warfare only
affected particular regions rather than whole society.

Foreign relations:
During Ming it first started with Yongle Emperor.
He was famous for his spectacular ocean voyages beginning in 1405. Reaching
Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Somalia and farther down the coast of East Africa.
Voyages = did not seek new territories into expansion and did not introduce
trade as it was still banned.
Fleets = engaged in tribute trade i.e. giving gifted to foreign rulers and receiving
gifts in return.
Despite not trading, China gained commercially and acquired valuable gifts from
various countries.
Open-coast trading policy came into effect from 1685, broadening Chinese power
into trade.