1. Discuss the rise of the Manchu Qing in Manchuria and its eventual rule over all of China. Assess its governance of China. WHY/ HOW/ SO WHAT

• In manchuria, the Manchus had come to power once again, despite Ming efforts that wanted to keep them subdued. Nurhaci, a Manchu leader, had successfully unified all of the manchu tribes. He founded a chinese style state, adopted chinese style confucianism and also declared himself the emperor of the state he created. He controlled all of Manchu and had made vassals of inner and outer Mongolia as well. This unification and adoption of chinese methods made the manchu’s bigger and stronger than the failing Ming dynasty. The manchu state had also, by this time, developed a large army that was composed of many chinese citizens, who believed that the Manchu state was more competent than the Ming. By 1644, the manchu’s were very similar to the chinese culturally, and had adopted almost all aspects of chinese culture, except for language.
• This same year Wu Sangui, a Ming general who was busy trying to crush a rebellion (led by Li Ziheng), allowed the Mongolian army entrance into China, in order to defeat the rebels. After the rebellion was crushed, the Manchu’s stayed in China, where they proceeded to found the last chinese dynasty- the Qing. They were ruthless in the conquests of central and south China, but later tried hard to win the people over. They were the only dynasty, beside to the mongols, to rule all of china proper.
• The transition from Ming to Qing was lacking bloodshed and was not a violent one. Why? Maybe because the Manchu’s were tired of always being suppressed by the chinese. How- the change occurred through Nurhaci, a capable leader who unified the manchu’s and made them strong. So what? Relevant because It was one of 2 dynasties that was founded by “barbaric” peoples, and the Qing also happened to be the last ruling dynasty of China.
• Assessing its governence: The Manchu’s, all in all, were a successful dynasty. The first 2 centuries were ruled by Kangxi and Qianlong, 2 emperors who were very capable men and reigned for a long time. Under the Qing, China saw a growth in commerce, agriculture and prosperity, and the people were content with what was happening. The Qing tried to keep with chinese traditions and were not harsh with the people. The population also more than likely tripled after 1650, which also indicated prosperity and growth.

1. In what ways was the Tokugawa style of governance a continuation of the Ashikaga administration? In what ways did it differ from the Ashikaga administration?

In what ways was it a continuance: (Point form)

• It was still a shogunate.
• The emperor still remained a figure head.
• The shogunate was still very much in charge of japan.

In what ways did it differ: (the How)

• Had excessive control over the provinces- which ashikaga could never acheive.
• Had the sankin kotai which required the maintaining of 2 palaces ( so taht the shogunate could keep an eye on the daimyo)
• Highly controlled social structure- SPAM, smaurai, peasants, artisans, merchants.
• capital and imperial residence moved from kyoto to Edo (modern day tokyo).

Why? Because the Ashikaga was not as powerful as the Tokugawa. The Tokugawa were obsessed with control and order.

So what? Important because the Tokugawa brought to Japan the “longest period of peace and stability in its history.” It continued almost to the end of the shogunate in the 1800’s.