Webinars & Presentations
Asian Topics Discussion Series: China under the Ming Dynasty
Conventional teaching about China maintains that after the spectacular naval voyages under Admiral Zheng He that took place from 1405-1433 and reached the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea, the Chinese emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) “closed off” the country from the rest of the world – of particular significance during the “global age” of the Western European sea voyages after 1450. This allows further justification of the “opening” of China by the Western powers in the 1800s. In fact, historians now argue that this old, conventional view, is inaccurate, demonstrating that China was in no way, “cut off” and “closed” to trade and other forms of exchanges. China has always been part of the global system; never isolated.
Join facilitator Dr. Elizabeth Joy Reynolds for this session as part of the "Asian Topics Discussion Series" and explore key points during this period with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss various approaches to teaching the topic.