Russia, China and Japan 406-08, 415-18, 442-47, 510-20, 522-28

Russia emerges as superpower

Gained freedom from the Mongols Most Russians remained Christian (Orthodox)

Russia was purely an agricultural economy dependent on peasant labor

Ivan the Great (III)-centralized his rule Married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor

Claimed Russia had succeeded as a “third Rome”

Called himself tsar, or Caesar, the autocrat of all Russians

Ivan IV (the Terrible)

Motivated by a desire to push Mongol overlords back

Peasant-adventurers (Cossacks) were Russian pioneers, migrating to newly seized lands

Early expansion eliminated independent central Asia and created a multicultural empire

British merchants established trading contacts and soon Western countries established outposts near Moscow

Ivan IV died without and heir, which led to new power claims

Romanov family was chosen to rule and did so until 1917

Continued expansion

State controlled the church-”Old Believers” were exiled to Siberia

17th/18th Centuries in Russia

Power of the nobility over serfs increased steadily

Estate agriculture (like grain) brought in manufactured goods and especially luxury items

Russian cities remained small-95% of the population was rural Nobility prevented the emergence of a substantial

merchant class

Manufacturing lagged behind the West

Economic and social unrest led to peasant rebellions

Spain By 18th century, Spanish colonial system was

crumbling Weak kings, foreign wars, increasing debt,

declining population, internal revolts

Threatened by France, England, Holland Seized lots of islands and used them for sugar

production/slaves/plantations

Spanish colonies became increasingly self-sufficient

Final crisis: Charles II died without an heir-there were many claims to the throne The War of Spanish Succession took place, and

resulted in the Treaty of Utrecht

A branch of the Bourbon family was recognized as rulers of Spain

Bourbons

New Bourbon dynasty aimed at strengthening the state and its economy The Jesuits were expelled from Spain in 1767

French bureaucratic models were introduced

The navy was rebuilt with new ships

Often allied with France against England

Use French intendancy system-decentralized colonial gov’t

Commerce if the Caribbean greatly expanded Cuba, Buenos Aires

Silver output reached new heights (Mexico)

Portugal

Marquis of Pombal-suppressed groups that stood in the way of his power Jesuits were expelled from the

Portuguese Empire in 1759 Brazil was the centerpiece of his reforms

Rio de Janeiro became the capital

Abolished slavery in Portugal to ensure a steady supply to Brazil

Not much changes in Brazil

Asia

Overall, Europeans didn’t fare as well in the Asian mainland, away from the sea and coasts Certain situations of expansion were successful

Ceylon-conquered by Portugal/Holland for cinnamon

Java-Dutch for coffee

Luzon-Spain

In each area of European expansion they set up tribute regimes

Conversion in India of the low caste/untouchables to Christianity was just one example of the isolated conversion in Asia

Philippines converted to a creative blend of Catholicism

Ming Dynasty Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang- a military commander who

declared himself Hongwu

Launched an effort to rid China of all traces of the Mongols

Civil service exam system was reinstated and expanded

Introduced public beatings for bureaucrats found guilty of corruption

Exiled potential rivals to the throne

Promoted public works projects-those who cleared and cultivated unoccupied lands would be tax-exempt, lowered forced labor demands on the peasants

Increased subordination of youths to elders, women to men

Commercial/population boom through Spanish and Portuguese merchants

Maize, sweet potatoes and peanuts were important

Terms of trade: only 2 places allowed to do business- Macao, Canton

Chinese Retreat/Decline After Zheng He expeditions, China becomes

increasingly isolated Europeans then became more interested

Jesuit missionaries tried to convert the elite

Political corruption eroded the foundations of the empire

Floods, drought, and famine plagued the land Dynasty toppled in 1644 from rebels within

Created a political vacuum-Jurchens seize power

Established a new dynasty, Qing, which would rule for 3 ½ centuries

Japan Nobunaga took command, then was killed, but his ablest

general, Hideyoshi, quickly moved to take control

Was resisted by the daimyos but became military master

After his death, Tokugawa took over-brought political unity

Europeans traded goods to Japan (firearms, printing press, clocks) for silver, copper, pottery

Firearms revolutionized Japanese warfare

Christian missionaries sought to convert the Japanese

Japan became fearful that Europeans would then start taking over, and begin military expeditions

Began to restrict foreign activities in the late 1580’s

Missionaries forced to leave, handful of cities could trade, Japanese ships were forbidden to trade or sail overseas, Western books banned as they moved toward isolation