Foot binding
Who- Wealthy Females
What- “Tightly constrained and even deformed by strips of linen, bound feet could not grow naturally
and so would not support the weight of an adult woman. Bound feet were small and dainty, and they
sometimes inspired erotic arousal among men” (578).
Where- “Moreover, foot binding, a custom that probably originated in the Song dynasty, became
exceptionally popular during the late Ming and Qing dynasties” (578).
Why it is important- The reason that foot binding was important is because it demonstrates the
patriarchal society found in China at the time.
Zheng He
Who- Zheng He was “a Muslim from Yunnan in southwestern China who rose through the ranks of
eunuch administrators to become a trusted advisor of Yongle” (543).
What- “Zheng He embarked on each voyage [to the Indian Ocean Basin] with an awesome fleet of
vessels complemented by armed forces large enough to overcome resistance at any port where the
expedition called. On the first voyage, for example, Zheng He’s fleet consisted of 317 ships accompanied
by almost twenty-eight thousand armed troops. Many of these vessels were mammoth, nine-masted
“treasured ships” with four decks capable of accommodating five hundred or more passengers, as well
as huge stores of cargo” (453).
Where- China
When- 1371-1433
Why it is important- The reason that Zheng He is important is because he not only acted as an advisor to
the Ming emperor, but he also demonstrated Chinese power throughout the Indian Ocean Basin.
Treasure ships
Who- The treasure ships were those included in Zheng He’s expeditions.
What- “Many of these vessels were mammoth, nine-masted “treasured ships” with four decks capable
of accommodating five hundred or more passengers, as well as huge stores of cargo. Measuring up to
124 meters (408 feet) long and 51 meters (106 feet) wide, these treasure ships were by far the largest
marine craft the world had ever seen” (453).
Where- China/The Indian Ocean Basin
When- 1405-1433
Why it is important- The reason that the Treasure ships were important is because they not only
displayed Chinese power to those areas the ships called in, but they also allowed for large quantities of
goods to be traded due to the ships size.
Manila galleons
Who- Spanish
What- “For 250 years, from 1565 to 1815, Spanish galleons-sleek, fast, heavily armed ships capable of
carrying large cargoes-regularly plied the waters of the Pacific Ocean between Manila in the Philippines
and Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico” (488).
Where- “the Pacific Ocean between Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico”
(488).
When- 1565 to 1815
Why it is important- The reason that Manila galleons are important is because they were involved in the
trading between Manila and Acapulco.
VOC
Who- The Dutch
What- “Joint-stock companies were especially important institutions in early capitalist society. Large
trading companies such as the English East India Company and its Dutch counterpart, the Vereenigde
Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), spread the risks attached to expensive business enterprises and also
took advantage of extensive communications and transportation networks” (510).
Where- Netherlands
When- 1602
Why it is important- The reason that the VOC was important is because it “spread the risks attached to
expensive business enterprises and also took advantage of extensive communications and
transportation networks” (510).
“Mean people”
Who- The mean people included “slaves, indentured servants, entertainers, prostitutes, and other
marginal groups such as the “beggars of Jiangsu” and the “boat people of Guangdong” (583).
What- The mean people were lower in Chinese society due to the fact that they were considered
“marginal groups.”
Where- China
When- the Mean People were looked down upon ever since Confucian teachings placed them as the
lower class of society.
Why it is important- The reason that the mean people are important is because they represent how
those who were not viewed as important to the maintaining of Chinese society were placed in lower
classes.
Matteo Ricci
Who- “Founder of the mission to China was the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1552-1610)” (584).
What- “Founder of the mission to China was the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), who had the
ambitious goal of converting China to Christianity, beginning with the Ming emperor Wanli. Ricci was a
brilliant and learned man as well as a polished diplomat, and he became a popular figure at the Ming
court. Upon arrival at Macau in 1582, Ricci immersed himself in the study of the Chinese language and
the Confucian classics” (584).
Where- China
When- 1552-1610
Why it is important- The reason that Matteo Ricci is important is because he symbolized European
efforts in China to spread Christianity.
Shogun
Who: A Japanese military governor.
What: “From the twelfth through the sixteenth century, a shogun (“military governor”) ruled Japan
through retainers who received political rights and large estates in exchange for military services.
Theoretically, the Shogun ruled as a temporary stand-in for the Japanese emperor, the ultimate source
of political authority. In fact, however, the emperor was nothing more than a figurehead and the shogun
sought to monopolize power. After the fourteenth century the conflicting ambitions of the shoguns and
retainers led to constant turmoil, and by the sixteenth century Japan was in a state of civil war. Japanese
historians often refer to the sixteenth century as the era of sengoku- “the country at war” (585).
Where- Japan
When-12th-16th Century
Why it is important- The reason that the Shogun is important is because is because the shogun was a
military governor who “sought to monopolize power” (585).
Bakufu
Who- Founded by Tokugawa
What- “In 1600 the last of these chieftains, Tokugawa Ieyasu (reigned 1600-1616), established a military
government known as the Tokugawa bakufu (“tent government,” since it theoretically was only a
temporary replacement for the emperor’s rule). Ieyasu and his descendants ruled the bakufu as shoguns
from 1600 until the end of the Tokugawa dynasty in 1867” (586).
Where- Japan
When- 1600-1867
Why it is important- The reason that the Bakufu is important is because it was an example of a shogun
trying to monopolize power (even though in theory his and his ancestor’s power “was only a temporary
replacement for the emperor’s rule) (586).
Daimyo
Who: Great Names/“powerful territorial lords who ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary
landholdings” (586).
What- “The principal aim of the Tokugawa shoguns was to stabilize their realm and prevent the return of
civil war. Consequently, the shoguns needed to control the daimyo (“great names”), powerful territorial
lords who ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary landholdings. The 260 or so daimyo functioned
as near-absolute rulers within their domains. Each maintained a government staffed by military
subordinates, supported an independent judiciary, established schools, and circulated paper money”
(568).
Where- Japan
Why it is important- The reason that the Daimyo were important is because they functioned as “nearabsolute rulers within their domains” (568).
Samurai
Who- Japanese professional warriors
What- “The samurai were professional warriors, specialists in the use of force and the arts of fighting.
They served the provincial lords of Japan, who relied on the samurai both to enforce their authority in
their own territories and to extend their claims to other lands” (301).
Where- Japan
Why it is important- The reason that the Samurai were important is because they were used to enforce
local lord’s rule onto other rulers in Japan.
Shinto
Who: Japanese
What: “Indigenous Japanese religion that emphasizes purity, clan loyalty, and the divinity of the
emperor” (G-8).
Where: Japan
Why it is important: The reason that Shintoism is important is because it is a native religion that focuses
majorly on nature. However, because it is a native religion, Shintoism was praised by those who wished
to do away with foreign influences.
Francis Xavier
Who: Francis Xavier was a Jesuit who traveled to Japan and founded a mission in the hopes of attracting
new converts to Christianity.
What: “The Jesuit Francis Xavier traveled to Japan in 1549 and opened a mission to seek converts to
Christianity” (590).
Where: Japan
When: 1549-1612 (Time he arrived in Japan to the time the Japanese strictly
Why it is important: The reason that Francis Xavier was important is because he represents a large
population of Jesuits who tried to gain grounds for Christianity in Japan during the Tokugawa era.
Dutch learning
Who: Japanese scholars and Dutch merchants
What: “A small number of Japanese scholars learned Dutch in order to communicate with the
foreigners. Their studies, which they called “Dutch learning,” brought considerable knowledge of the
outside world to Japan. After 1720, Tokugawa authorities lifted the ban on foreign books, and Dutch
learning began to play a significant role in Japanese intellectual life” (592).
Where: Japan
When: After 1639
Why it is important: The reason that Dutch learning is important is because it demonstrated how
Japanese scholars were fascinated with European technological discoveries and how Europeans
impacted the world technologically.