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Derek Piedra-Güido P.2 1/19/10 Chang over Time Essay China 1450-1700 In China during the period of 1450 to 1700, a key social continuity was the continuation of the patriarchal family while there was economic change in the form of global trade and political change with the arrival of the Manchus and establishment of the Qing dynasty. During this period, the patriarchal family structure was reinforced by Confucian principles. These principles subjected women to the authority of men. This can still be seen to this day since Chinese parents preferred boys over girls. The Chinese preferred boys because they had the opportunity to obtain govertnamental positions and bring honor to their families. Another example of the subjugation of women was the practice of foot binding which was not outlawed until the 20th century. Filial Piety was also important because it taught obedience of subjects towards the emperor and not only obedience of children towards their parents. Children also had the duty of looking after their parent’s happiness and well-being. China’s entry into the global trade network brought great prosperity. The Chinese produced silk, porcelain, lacquer wore, and tea which were products of high demand in the Indian Ocean Basin, Central Asia, and European markets. The introduction of products from the Americas also helped the Chinese economy. American crops such as maize and sweet potatoes were planted in previously uncultivated lands thus creating brand new sources of income. Another product of economic importance was silver which not only affected China but the entire world as well since silver was a brand new precious metal. New technologies had to be imported since the Ming and Qing dynasties focused on the well-being of society and the government rather than in technological innovations. There were also political changes during this period, which is mostly due to the creation of the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing dynasty. The Qing dynasty was established by the Manchus, which were people from Manchuria. They came to China after the collapse of the Ming dynasty. During the early 1600’s the Manchus organized themselves and launched invasions into China, a factor for the Manchu’s rise included Chinese support and a skilled military. The Qing dynasty opened the doors to Europeans, which I believe, spelled the doom of the dynasty since European intervention in Chinese affairs would weaken China to the point where it would not recover until the 1980’s when Deng Xiaoping came to power as head of the People’s Republic of China. China has always had the tradition of the patriarchal family, which was always backed by Confucianism. The openness that it showed towards foreigners during this period would help the Chinese economy but also helped in bringing more than half a century of a more weaker China.