Indian History and World History (Part-39)

The 'Great Wall of China' was built during the period of the 'Qin dynasty.

Purpose:

• The Great Wall was designed to protect Chinese states and empires from various nomadic tribes and military incursions.

The last imperial dynasty of China was the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).

Key Points:

1. Established: The Qing Dynasty was founded by the Manchu people in 1644 after they overthrew the Ming Dynasty.

2. Significance:

   • It was the largest and longest-lasting imperial dynasty in Chinese history, lasting for nearly three centuries.

   • The Qing rulers expanded China's borders significantly, reaching their greatest territorial extent during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century.

3. Decline:

   • The dynasty weakened due to internal strife, corruption, foreign invasions, and economic troubles, especially in the 19th century.

   • The First Opium War (1839–1842) and the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) were pivotal events in the decline.

4. End: The Qing Dynasty officially ended in 1912, when Puyi, the last emperor, abdicated, marking the end of over two millennia of imperial rule in China. The Republic of China was then established.

The ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, which greatly influenced the Indian National Movement, were taken from the French Revolution of 1789.

Key Points:

• These ideals were enshrined in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

• The French Revolution played a major role in inspiring global movements for democracy and freedom.

• In India, these principles influenced key leaders like Bhagat Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as many freedom fighters who aimed for the independence and equality of the Indian people.

The Renaissance is a period in Europe that lasted from the 14th century to the 17th century.

Key Points:

• It began in Italy in the late 1300s and spread across Europe.

• The Renaissance was a time of cultural rebirth, where there was a revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman art, literature, and knowledge.

• It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age and had a profound impact on art, science, literature, and philosophy.

Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan, centered around the worship of kami (spirits or deities) and the sacredness of nature.

Key Points:

1. Origin: No founder, it evolved naturally in Japan, with practices dating back to ancient times.

2. Kami: Divine spirits found in nature, ancestors, or deified figures.

3. Shrines: Places of worship where people offer prayers to kami, marked by torii gates.

4. Rituals: Involve purification, festivals (matsuri), and offerings to kami.

5. Beliefs: Focus on harmony with nature, respect for ancestors, and natural cycles.

6. Influence: A significant part of Japanese culture, coexisting with Buddhism.

1. Vasco da Gama's visit to India (1498),
2. the beginning of the Mughal Empire by Babur (1526),
3. and the Sepoy Mutiny (1857).

The Opium Wars were two conflicts between China and Western powers, primarily over the opium trade.

Key Points:

1. First Opium War (1839–1842):

   • Cause: China attempted to stop the British trade of opium.

   • Result: China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking: opening ports, ceding Hong Kong, and paying reparations.

2. Second Opium War (1856–1860):

   • Cause: Continued tensions over trade and China’s refusal to allow foreign diplomats in Beijing.

   • Result: China signed the Treaty of Tientsin and Convention of Peking, further opening ports and legalizing the opium trade.

Impact:

• Weakened China, led to foreign domination, and contributed to the decline of the Qing Dynasty.

It was composed by 'Karl Marx in 1867.

It contains the condemnation of Capital and capitalism, analysis of socialism and measures to free the working class from exploitation. The book 'Das Capital' is called the 'Bible of Socialism'.