HIST 2C Lecture 3: week 3 expanding world system
Document Summary
Strategically located between eastern and mediterranean trade. European traders had to go through these empires to reach east asia. Deteriorated after the death of the last of enlightened rulers. Destabilized central control, devolved power to ethnically/religiously divided regional princeships. French and british traders stoked local conflicts for their own gain. Both attempting to secure a monopoly over indian trade. Carnatic wars pitted british east india company against french east india company in. Became the springboard for the british empire in east indies on the verge of the pax conflicts on the indian peninsula. Society based on peasant settlements, confucian philosophy, and stable bureaucracy. Ming dynasty passed political authority back to the han chinese. Goal: protect against invasions from mongols or machus. Continental, rather than oceanic threat, focused attention to expansion on the continent. China thought of itself as the most advanced country on the planet. Seeking trade with foreign powers was seen as below the emperor.
