THE MING DYNASTY, 1368-1644
which represented the revival of Chinese civilization with a new idea of a classical civilization
with a very large population, vast resources, a most advanced technology and skilled engineers and great laborers as well as a very efficient bureaucracy and a well educated elite by the examination system.
THE QING (CHING) DYNASTY, 1644-1911
the last dynasty to be established in Chinese history
founded by non-Chinese emperors, north Asian steppe people from Manchuria
Manchus came over to rid Beijing in 1644 from a rebel to help the Ming and this they did after which they did not leave but declared their own mandate of heaven.
Though viewed as foreign by both the contemporary Mings and later western historical discourses, it was the Manchus that actually established the borders of China in its greatest territorial form (today these are the borders of China)
The growth of agriculture and continuous favorable balance of trade (export of luxury items in exchange for cash, gold and silver)
The Trading System: the Canton/Cohong system (only designated companies the cohongs, could trade with the Europeans, in only designated areas, the cantons.
BUT end of the 18th century brought population increase which meant that the peasant population began to go hungry and China began to experience rebellion which marked Chinese history form then on. These first were peasant rebellions against the landed aristocracy, of the size rarely seen in world history.
The peasant revolutions as of the 1770s and the encroachment of foreign commercial interest as of the 1820s turned this China of immense population into crisis. This is the age of free trade which meant colonization of Asia by the west. The British found something to sell – or rather smuggle to China, opium produced in India. The East India Company retains monopoly over opium trade with China. This sale results in a serious outflow of silver which increases the economic burden of the peasants. Therefore, Emperor Daoguang sends the imperial commissioner Lin Zexu to Canton to stop the opium trade.
Opium Wars (1842-Nanking Treaty and 1858) defeat of China and China opened up to western interests. Free trade instead of the canton/cohong system, much like the Anglo-Ottoman Treaty of 1838 (Baltalimanı).
Sino-Japanese War 1895, another major defeat: China no longer the most powerful state in East Asia. After 1895, Chinese intellectuals turn radical, questioning their imperial system. They urge the reform movements which led to the 1898 reforms – the 100 days reform movement until Empress Cixi consolidates power and ends the reforms. She doesn’t only end the reforms but also executes many of the intellectuals.
The remaining intellectuals take refuge in Japan: hence the influence of Japanese intellectuals
In 1912 a nationalist revolt overthrew the Manchu dynasty. Sun Yat Sen was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader often referred to as the Father of Modern China.
Then a series of great political upheavals in China between 1911 and 1949 which eventually led to the Communist Party rule and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
