HIST281 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Wei Zhongxian, Eunuch, Donglin Academy
Document Summary
Small-holding farms settled intensive agriculture farmers can buy/sell land! Land is alienable, division of holdings over time (due to inheritance and pop. growth) Farmers can be defined as peasants but is problematic in chinese context. Most form of land in europe are. Peasants (farmers) owned their owned by hereditary lords. Marxist perspective: peasants own the means of production. Therefore not an exploited class compared to peasants in europe. Farmers (peasants) basis of the empire (90% of the population) Artisans specialist artisan careers like writers, sculptors become widespread during economic peace and stability in the early and middle period of the ming rule. Scholars/officials appointed by the central government based on examination success and merit. Merchants bottom of society, merchants are less virtuous according to confucian scholars and officials. Network of periodic markets and internal trade commerce, trade and the cash economy.
