I. The International Context
 

A. China and the Outside World in the 16th and 17th centuries
 

1. The Mongol Invasions
 

a. 15th-century attacks, 1436-49

1. Weakened defenses on northern border
 
 
 
 

2. Drew heavily on Chinese resources
 
 
 
 

3. Emperor Zhu Qizhen or Chu Ch'i-chen [JOO CHEE-jen] captured in 1449
 
 
 
 

4. Ended Ming expansion
 
 
 
 

b. 16th-century attacks, 1540-1573.

2. Pirates

a. Early Ming Background, c. 1350-1450
 
 
 
 
 

b. Later Ming Era, 1450-1600
 
 
 
 
 

c. Social Background of the Pirates
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. The Europeans
 
 
 

a. What Brought Europeans to China?
 
 

1. Situation in Europe
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Riches of the East
 
 
 

b. Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch Traders, 1500-1650
 
 
 
 
 
 

c. The Jesuits
 
 
 
 
 

II. Crisis and Collapse, 1580-1681
 

A. Financial Problems, 1580-1640
 

1. Wars

a. Japanese invasion, 1595-1598
 
 
 

b. Korean war, 1593-1598
 
 
 
 

2. Governing Expenses

a. Palaces
 
 
 

b. Princes and their Retinues
 
 
 

3. Solution: Taxes

a. Commercial Taxes
 
 
 

b. Increase Burden on Peasantry
 
 
 

c. Internal Customs on Yangzi (or Yangtze) River and Grand Canal
 
 
 
 

B. Eunuchs vs. Scholar-Gentry II
 

1. 1611-1627
 

a. literati and loyalist scholars vs. palace eunuchs
 
 
 

b. outcome: complete undermining of governing class confidence
 
 
 
 

C. Insurrection and Collapse
 

1. Popular Revolt in Shaanxi (or Shan-hsi), 1627-1644
 
 
 

2. Invasion of the Manchu
 
 
 

D. Comparing Military Violence in Ming China and Europe
 

1. Thirty Years' War
 
 

2. English Civil War
 
 

3. Northeastern Europe