Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Angkor Wat
complex
3. Formation of Imperial China
Yellow River civilisation
Central theme has been
unification of Han
heartland between
Yellow and Yangtze
Rivers
Invasions by Mongols
(1271-1368 CE) and
Manchus
Gradual expansion over
land mass
Warring States Incorporation of Tibet
and other territories
221-206 B.C.
Confucianism
Confucius (551-479 BCE)
Teaching consolidated by his followers,
Mencius’ Analects of Confucius
Centrality of Emperor
Hierarchical personal obligations
Examination system - meritocracy
Ideological foundation for Imperial China
(221 BCE-199 CE)
Qin Dynasty 221-207 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE-220 CE
Sinification
Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
Strong central
government
Outward looking
Encouraged
international trade
Voyages of
exploration by
Admiral Zheng He
Revival of tribute
system
Ching Dynasty 1644-1911
4. The Chinese Tribute System
Admiral Cheng Ho, 1405-33
Sinitic (Chinese) System
World viewed as a No inter-government
single unit relations per se
China was the Middle No role for
Kingdom international law or
Emperor had cooperation
authority over all Force used to:
people under heaven Secure recognition
Chastise a state that had
‘Conquest’ through strayed from proper rules
culture and virtue of conduct
Sinitic System – The Ideal
Inequality of nations a Strong dynasties
fundamental feature were expansive
Insistence on China did not interfere
hierarchy in relations in internal affairs
Tributary relations Compliant behavior
based on personal rewarded
obligations “Rogue” states
China recognized as chastised or punished
superior
Sinitic System – The Reality
Principle of ‘righteous Korea and Vietnam
war’ subjected to periodic
China unified by invasion
war Korea seen as a
War and organizing model tributary state
for war mainstays of Vietnam seen as a
government noncompliant and
Two strategic cultures rebellious
Idealized
Operational
Indic and Sinitic Systems
Non-universal ruler Universal Emperor
Hereditary non- Non-hereditary
centralized centralized
administration administration
Aggressive interstate
behavior, need to Relatively benign,
prove superiority superiority manifest in
through manifestation cultural terms,
of superior power superiority not
amenable to proof by
force of arms
Indic and Sinitic Systems
Vague definition of Clear notion of own
borders borders but not of
Distribution of barbarian kingdoms
international political Concentric circles
power in form of representing
concentric circles; decreasing cultural
enemies and friends influence, hostility
alternate, closest greatest from center,
neighbor primary neighbors like
enemy younger brothers
5. The Spread of Islam
and Islamic Political Power
Islamic Sultanates
Direct contact with Mecca
and Ottoman Caliphate
Portugal attacked and seized
Malacca Sultanate 1511
Span fought the ‘Moors’ in the
Philippines
Christian-Muslim conflict -
discourse of jihad
Collision of Christianity and Islam set
off violent confrontation Aid received from Ottoman
Portugal attacked and destroyed
Empire
Muslim trade in Indian Ocean from
late 15th Century
Indonesian volunteers fought
in India
6. The Age of Commerce
1450-1680
Two Trade Networks Combined
Iberian Trade Routes
Pre-colonial Forces as Fundamental
Drivers in the Contemporary Period
India – role in Non-Aligned Movement
5 Principles of Peaceful Co-existence
Member of ARF and EAS
Buddhism plays an important domestic
political role in Sri Lanka and Myanmar
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
Hinduism a domestic political issue in
India
briefly emerged in Malaysia in 2007
Pre-colonial Forces as Fundamental
Drivers in the Contemporary Period