Slide 1Major Points for DiscussionWho Am I?Zheng He (1371-1433)Slide 5Zheng He’s treasure ship vs. Christopher Columbus’ Santa MariaThe Afroeurasian Trade NetworkGoods of the Afroeurasian Trade NetworkTrade and Travel along the Silk RoadFall of Constantinople (1453)Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)Why the Ming Dynasty was so powerfulGreat Wall of ChinaThe Wanli Emperor (r. 1572-1620)Ching Dynasty (1644-1912)The Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662-1722)Japan in 1500Tokugawa IeyasuCulture and decadence in the Edo periodPolicy of SakokuTHE WORLD IN 1500History 102Major Points for DiscussionWho am I? A sailor in world historyThe Afroeurasian trade networkChinese empires: from Ming to ManchuJapan during the Tokugawa ShogunateWho Am I?Zheng He (1371-1433)Zheng He’s treasure ship vs. Christopher Columbus’ Santa MariaThe Afroeurasian Trade NetworkGoods of the Afroeurasian Trade NetworkChina: porcelains, silks, and medicinal compounds like camphorIndonesia: spices like pepper, cloves, and nutmeg Philippines: sugar from the PhilippinesIndia: silk and cotton textiles, copper weapons, incense, dyes, and opiumTrade and Travel along the Silk RoadFall of Constantinople (1453)Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)Why the Ming Dynasty was so powerfulLarge population (approx. 65 million)Military strengthEducated and learned society (artisans, engineers, publishing houses, vibrant culture, etc.)Political stability through extensive civil service and strong emperorGreat Wall of ChinaThe Wanli Emperor (r. 1572-1620)His long reign witnessed the decline of the Ming DynastyIneffective leadership combined with economic problems, natural disasters, war, plague led to the fall of the Ming and rise of the ChingChing Dynasty (1644-1912)The Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662-1722)Longest reigning Chinese emperor (61 years)His reign witnessed the zenith of the Ching Dynasty’s social, economic, and military powerA charismatic and skilled leader (understood military tactics and diplomacy) he oversaw the territorial expansion of Ching territoryJapan in 1500Governed by military “shogunates” since the middle agesFrom late 1400s, civil war reigned and local leaders – daimyos – and the samurai warrior class ruled regionally and fought for supremacyTokugawa IeyasuTook control of Japan in 1600 following Battle of SekigaharaEstablished Tokugawa Shogunate, which rules Japan from 1603 to 1868Capital moved to Edo [Tokyo], located in the region he rulesAlternate residence system put in place to control daimyosCulture and decadence in the Edo periodPolicy of Sakoku Policy by which Japan was effectively “closed” to outside world from 1639-1853: foreigners banned and Japanese prevented from leaving.Resulted from fear of growing influence of European traders and missionaries.Strength of Japan’s closure in practice has been sometimes over-stated: continued trade with China and provided one port (Nagasaki) to