Unit 2 Key Concepts!

Chapter 14: Tradition and Change in East Asia

1. Ming Dynasty

• Date: 1368-1644

• Historical Background: The Ming Dynasty succeeded the Mongol-run Yuan Dynasty. Founded by Hongwu, a poor man who led rebellions to establish the dynasty, he reigned from 1368 to 1398.

• Key Figure: Emperor Yongole launched naval expeditions reaching Malindi in East Africa.

• Characteristics:

  • Highly centralized government.

  • Focused on eliminating Mongol influences and restoring traditional Chinese values.

• Significance:

  • Cultural resurgence that altered China's politics and social structures,

  • Implementation of civil service exams promoting education and social mobility.

  • Revived Confucian beliefs, which intensified the subordination of women.

2. Qing Dynasty (Including Kangxi and Qianlong)

• Date: 1644-1911 (Qing Dynasty), 1661-1722 (Kangxi), 1736-1795 (Qianlong)

• Historical Context: The Qing Dynasty arose from the Manchu invasion of the Ming Dynasty. It was the last and longest-lasting imperial dynasty in China.

• Key Figures:

  • Kangxi, a Confucian scholar known for patronizing schools, was an enlightened ruler and a conqueror, successfully conquering Taiwan.

  • Qianlong, Kangxi’s grandson, expanded the empire and maintained economic prosperity during his reign by ceasing taxes during times of abundance.

• Significance:

  • Preservation of Manchu ethnic identity; outlawed intermarriage with Han Chinese.

  • Political dominance of the Manchu ethnic group, limiting Han participation in high government positions.

  • Extensive territorial expansion that increased governance challenges.

  • Population growth necessitated increased agricultural production, affecting demographics and the environment.

3. Scholar-Bureaucrats and Civil Service Examination System

• Date: 1644-1911; fully developed during the Qing Dynasty.

• Characteristics:

  • Scholar-bureaucrats emerged from the scholar-gentry class, educated men who passed rigorous civil service exams.

  • Exams administered at district, provincial, and metropolitan levels; a metropolitan pass was required for government roles.

• Significance:

  • Provided social mobility opportunities, enabling individuals from various backgrounds to ascend socially based on merit.

  • Promoted Confucian values, facilitating a governance model aligned with these principles.

  • Diversified the political landscape by allowing candidates from varied social standings to serve in government roles.

4. Tokugawa Shogunate (Including Tokugawa Ieyasu)

• Date: 12th - 16th Century (Tokugawa Shogunate), 1600-1616 (Tokugawa Ieyasu)

• Historical Context: The Tokugawa Shogunate held actual power, overshadowing the emperor, whose role became largely symbolic.

• Key Figure: Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Bakufu, a military-style government.

• Significance:

  • Altered the political structure of Japan, ensuring the emperor was not the principal governing authority, changing power dynamics.

5. Daimyos

• Date: 12th-19th Century

• Characteristics: Daimyos were powerful regional leaders with substantial autonomy but were closely monitored by the Tokugawa Shoguns through an "Alternate Attendance" policy.

• Significance:

  • Potential for conflict with shoguns due to their considerable power.

  • Their engagements with European traders introduced new technology and practices, influencing military innovations and political dynamics.

6. Foreign Trade and Relations for China and the West

• Date: Circa 18th Century

• Characteristics: Qing dynasty restricted foreign trade and maritime activities.

• Significance:

  • Trade restrictions preserved traditional Chinese culture, minimizing cultural exchanges.

  • Limited engagement hindered the evolution of maritime technology in China.

7. Foreign Trade and Relations for Japan and the West

• Date: 17th Century

• Characteristics: Japan's foreign trade thrived with regional partners but faced heavy restrictions from the Shogunate, leading to a two-century isolation.

• Significance:

  • Cultural exchange limitations due to strict trade laws restricted Japanese growth and innovation in maritime technologies.

Chapter 15: Empires in South and Southwest Asia

8. Ottoman Devshirme and Janissaries

• Date: 1289-1923

• Place: Turkey

• Characteristics: Devshirme system recruited Christian boys from the Balkans as slave-soldiers (Janissaries) for the Sultan, who were trained in Turkish and converted to Islam.

• Significance:

  • Spread of Islam and Turkish culture within the empire; Janissaries played crucial roles in Ottoman military expansion.

9. Suleyman the Magnificent

• Date: 1520-1566

• Place: Ottoman Empire

• Significance:

  • Key figure in territorial expansion, increasing regional power and influence, contributing to cultural diversity through conquests.

10. Safavid Empire (Including Shah Ismail)

• Date: 1501-1722 (Safavid Empire), 1501-1524 (Shah Ismail)

• Place: Persia/Iran

• Characteristics: Shia Muslim empire that led to wars against Sunni Ottoman neighbors due to religious differences.

• Significance:

  • Economic challenges arose from constant conflict with the Ottomans, affecting stability.

  • High Shia emphasis contributed to a lack of religious tolerance, diminishing cultural diversity within the empire.

11. Twelver Shiism and the Qizilbash

• Date: Circa 16th Century

• Place: Southwest Asia in Safavid Empire

• Characteristics: Twelver Shiism stated there were twelve successors to Muhammad and emphasized adherence to Shia doctrines.

• Significance:

  • Intensified conflicts with the Ottomans over divergent Islamic interpretations, leading to military engagements with territorial implications.

  • Reinforced Shia identity in the Safavid Empire, shaping the culture and governance.

12. Mughal Empire (Including Akbar and Aurangzeb)

• Date: 1526-1858 (Mughal Empire), 1556-1605 (Akbar), 1659-1707 (Aurangzeb)

• Place: India

• Key Figures:

  • Akbar promoted religious tolerance, enhancing India's cultural diversity during his rule.

  • Aurangzeb's strict Islamic governance eroded that tolerance, leading to cultural conflict and eventual decline.

• Significance:

  • Akbar's policies fostered a rich and pluralistic cultural landscape, while Aurangzeb's actions sowed discord and unrest impacting political stability.

13. Sikhism

• Date: 15th Century

• Place: South Asia

• Characteristics: Founded by Guru Nanak; a monotheistic faith emphasizing equality and service.

• Significance:

  • Supported by Akbar as a means to promote religious inclusivity, influencing the sociopolitical fabric of the Mughal Empire.