Why Was China Such an Advanced Society for So Long?

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Why Was China Such an Advanced Society for So Long?

Throughout history, China has been the center of many developments allowing for it to establish itself as an advanced society, one that has lasted through a number of dynastic cycles, an attempt towards the creation of a Republic, and still existing, People’s Republic of China, under the rule of China’s Communist party. Throughout this turbulent history China has made much advancement in site of its setbacks and has allowed itself to grow immensely and increase its stature, making it one of the world’s great powers. While most of China’s history can be analyzed through it its extensive periods under dynastic rule, the best way to look as China in terms of a successful advanced society is by analyzing its transformation under the Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty, and the formation of what is now known as Modern China. At the height of its rule, the Ming Dynasty oversaw a population of between 160 million (Fairbank, 128) and 200 million individuals (Ebrey, Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 197). In maintain strong control in the region the Ming oversaw large numbers of military forces which allowed them the ability to operate forcefully on both land and sea “Ebrey et al., East Asia, 271). Vast projects of renovation, development, law, military, and policing occurred under the reign of the Hongwu Emperor. The new and revised code of law that was created, the Daming Lu, was designed around Confucian principles and repealed certain clauses enacted under previous dynasties (Autocracy and China's Rebel Founding Emperors: Comparing Chairman Mao and Ming Taizu). This continued revision of law and commitment to Confucian ideals, principles, and beliefs help demonstrate a h...

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Myers, Ramon H., and Yeh-Chien Wang. "Economic Developments, 1644–1800." The Ch'ing Empire to 1800,. By Peterson Willard. Print.

Poon, Leon. "The People's Republic Of China: IV." History of China. Print.

Rowe, William T. "Social Stability and Social Change." The Cambridge History of China. Vol. 9, Part 1: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2002. Print.

White, Matthew. "Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls." Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls. Nov. 2005. Web. 06 Apr. 2014.

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