Ming China and Ming China and Tokugawa JapanTokugawa Japan

Empires that chose ISOLATIONEmpires that chose ISOLATION

MING CHINAMING CHINA

1368-16441368-1644

““New” Dynasty in China – the MingNew” Dynasty in China – the Ming

In 1400, MING CHINA had . . .In 1400, MING CHINA had . . . a stable government and a stable government and

bureaucracy (after bureaucracy (after overthrowing the last overthrowing the last Mongol rulers of the Yuan Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty)dynasty)

Reinstated their education Reinstated their education system for scholar-system for scholar-officialsofficials

more wealth, resources, & more wealth, resources, & productivity in ag than productivity in ag than most empiresmost empires

In 1400, MING CHINA had . . .In 1400, MING CHINA had . . . been using been using

gunpowder, the gunpowder, the compass, maps, and compass, maps, and moveable printmoveable print

larger armies than W. larger armies than W. Europe & good Europe & good shipbuilding shipbuilding technologytechnology

favorable terms for favorable terms for international tradeinternational trade

Ming China expanded its powerMing China expanded its power

Ming Emperors sent several gov-Ming Emperors sent several gov-sponsored expeditions in the early 1400s.sponsored expeditions in the early 1400s.

Hundreds of ships and thousands of men Hundreds of ships and thousands of men made diplomatic “contacts” and trade made diplomatic “contacts” and trade connections from China to East Africa.connections from China to East Africa.

Voyages of the Chinese, 1405-1433

Ming rulers chose internal development Ming rulers chose internal development over trade and expansionover trade and expansion

By the late 1400s, Chinese officials By the late 1400s, Chinese officials destroyed the journals about the destroyed the journals about the voyages.voyages.

Trade with Europeans was limited.Trade with Europeans was limited. The Chinese rulers placed emphasis on The Chinese rulers placed emphasis on

border security, building campaigns, border security, building campaigns, and agricultural production for China.and agricultural production for China.

MING CHINA did MING CHINA did NOTNOT have . . . have . . .

momentummomentum toward expansion, toward expansion, technological innovation, or scientific technological innovation, or scientific progressprogress

armies as well-trained or as deadly as armies as well-trained or as deadly as the armies of Europe or the Islamic the armies of Europe or the Islamic empiresempires

Tokugawa Japan

1600-1867

In 1600, Japan had

Recently been “unified.”

(Tokugawa family ruled Japan into the 1800s)

Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Casa

In 1600s, Japan had

a long tradition of the warrior - elites

adopted some of the weapons of Europeans – and begun to manufacture their own.

By the late 1600s, the Tokugawa rulers imposed isolation by. . .

severely limiting European trade goods & outlawing Christian missionaries.

Limiting Japanese travel

Banning Western books

Creating an education system that promoted Japanese identity

Keeping an eye on the “hairy barbarians”

For the next centuries, the Japanese elite kept contact with developments in Europe through trade contacts with the Dutch.

Japan did NOT have

many natural resources

success in invading Korea or China