Chapter 22 Asian Transitions in the Age of Global Change

Asian Trading World  Asian merchants only had 1 interest in Europe - Bullion (gold/silver)  3 main Asian trading zones:  Arab – carpets, tapestry, glass  Indian – cotton textiles  Chinese (East) – silk, paper, porcelain

Asian Trading World  Spice – most valued  No single power controlled the Asian trading network

Strait of Malacca

Portugal vs. Asia  Portugal had no interest in exporting bullion to Asia.  Portuguese defeated Egyptian and Indian naval forces  Set up fortified trading centers along Asian commercial networks

Malacca Ormuz Goa Portuguese fortified centers

 Portugal wanted a monopoly over key trade items, but never would.

Rise of Dutch and English  Dutch captured Malacca from Portugal  Both established trading centers  British would be forced to retreat to India

Malacca Batavia Ceylon Dutch fortified centers

Tribute  Once Europeans penetrated land, they were less successful.  In places that they were successful, Europe permitted the already established govt., but forced them to pay tribute, mainly in agricultural products.

 Europe tried to spread Christianity but had limited success.  Islam already established (SE Asia)  Philippines converted but many kept traditional beliefs.

 Other than New World Crops being introduced to Asia (which supported China’s growing population), there was very little cultural exchange.

 See Ming Dynasty handout notes…….

Japan’s Reunification

 Nobunaga – started centralization of Japan (1573)  Got rid of the last of the shoguns (Ashikaga)

 Toyotomi Hideyoshi – Nobunaga’s most successful general  Continued destroying daimyos  1590 became military overlord of a united Japan

Dealing with Europe  1543 – Europe attempted to penetrate Japan  Euro traders and missionaries brought cultural change and firearms

 Firearms changed civil struggle  Asian trade system  Christianity – diminished after Nobunaga’s assassination (threat of Japan’s social hierarchy)

Japan’s self-imposed Isolation  Official measures to halt foreign activities  Hideyoshi actively persecuted Christians  Western books banned

 Trade was limited to a few Dutch and Chinese ships  Confucianism was replaced by the school of “National Learning”. – emphasized native Japanese culture  Only elite kept track of the Western technology