1. Asia In Transition

2. I. European Trading in Asia
Asia had a sophisticated sea trading network in place by 1400s
Divided into 3 commercial zones
Arab zone – glass and textiles
Indian zone – spices, cotton textiles
China – paper, porcelain, silks
Not controlled by one central power, military largely absent from commercial activities
Arrival of Portugal and other European powers bring changes
Very little to trade, used force to obtain goods, establish trading posts
Captured coastal towns, established fortresses and factories
Ormuz – located in southern Persian Gulf, first major step (1507) into Asian sea trade network

3. I. Continued… European trading empires Missionaries
By end of 16th century, Portuguese power began to wane
Dutch and English gained control with better technology/weapons
While force was used to gain entry in to the Asian sea trading network, long-term prosperity was based on more peaceful trade
Systems of tribute imposed in some areas (Java, northern Philippines)
Local peoples essentially left alone as long as they paid
Centered on agricultural production, overseen by local elites
Missionaries
Spanish and Portuguese Jesuit missionaries won few converts in Asia
Islam and Hinduism were well established religions in the area prior to arrival of Europeans
Hindu elites refused to give up status, religious traditions
With the few that did convert, local traditions persisted/mixed with Catholicism

4. II. China During the Age of Exploration
Ming Dynasty ( )
Became the dominant Asian power at the time
Founded by Hongwu, originally a peasant, in 1368
Sought to restore power of China, erase Mongol past
Encouraged return to Confucian ideas/strong bureaucracy
Cleaned up corruption
Eventually became a tyrant, killing thousands of government officials suspected of plotting against him
Yunglo, son of Hongwu, continued many policies of his father
Began (1405) short-lived Chinese age of exploration by Zheng He
Explored as far as Africa, established a system of tribute in more than 16 countries
Voyages were ended in 1433, China became isolated

5. II. Continued… Life in China
Trade and commerce highly regulated
Confucian economic policies favored agriculture, not international trade
Instituted policy of isolation - largely cut off from outside world because of fear of foreign influence
European contact limited to ports of Macao and Canton
Life in China
Confucian scholar-gentry dominated society
New crops/agricultural techniques led to improved nutrition, population explosion
Achievements in the arts flourished (Ming Bling)
Females were not highly valued, many infants killed (female infanticide)
Decline of Ming Dynasty caused by corrupt officials, high taxes, and bad harvests that led to civil unrest

6. III. Japan Becomes Isolated
1400s – civil war disrupted Japanese leadership
Centralized power disappeared, feudalism became stronger
Warlords (daimyo) held real power, emperor had little say
Three leaders restore unity
Oda Nobunaga gained control of capital Kyoto in 1568
Sought to eliminate enemies, rule all of Japan
Unified large portion of central Japan
Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued Nobunaga’s mission
Gained control of most of Japan by 1590 through alliances and military strength
Launched attacks on Korea, first steps to building larger empire
Tokugawa Ieyasu oversaw the unification of Japan by 1600
Discontinued overseas expansion efforts
Tokugawa shogunate held power until 1867

7. III. Continued… European contact began mid-16th century Isolation
Brought new technologies, ideas
Guns gave advantage to unifying leaders
Missionaries attempted to convert
Some early success, especially with leaders interested in the West
By late 16th century, Christian missionaries and converts were being actively persecuted
Thought to be a threat to the social order
Isolation
By mid-17th century, Japanese ships forbidden to sail overseas
Europeans limited to small island of Deshima
Japanese elite remained aware of developments in West, while pushing for revival of indigenous culture

8. Key Vocabulary – Ch. 22 Caravel Asian Sea Trading Network Ormuz
Batavia
Hongwu
Macao
Canton
Nobunaga
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Deshima