Asia
Explorers
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Europeans begin to expand Eastward
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Seek trade, resources, etc.
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Goal: to make money
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Spread Christianity
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Major Countries trying to reach Asia:
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
Portugal (Africa, Indian Ocean)
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Spain (Caribbean)
Others:
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English
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Dutch
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French
China

The Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)
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The Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911)
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Two Rivers:
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Yellow River (The Huang He) - Northern China
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Name from the yellowish silt left behind when it overflows
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This silt is actually fertile soil called loess
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Yangtze River (The Chang Jiang) - Central China
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Between the two are China’s most fertile plains
Japan

Warring States Period (1467-1568)
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Tokugawa Shogunate (1600 -1867)
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Feudalism
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Emperor
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Shogun
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Daimyo
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Samurai
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Peasants
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Samurai:
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Warriors: use swords, spears, and archery
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Bushido: code of discipline
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Loyal to Daimyos
Isolation period:
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Turned away foreign ships
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Banned Christianity
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Pressured into opening its ports to trade
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Weakening of the Tokugawa Shogunate
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Meiji Restoration (1867 - 1912)
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Emperor regains power
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Begins westernizing Japan
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Breakdown of Japanese Feudalism
Emperor brings in Americans to help modernize military
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Teaches use of modern weaponry and tactics
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Would replace Samurai warfare
Rice and Population
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
Advances in rice cultivation:
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Quicker developing varieties (multiple crop yields)
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Drought resistant varieties
More people survived, more children born
Isolationism

China and Japan both:

Sought to limit outside influence
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Retain power
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Retain cultural traditions
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Did not feel the need to seek out new trade partners