Li Boyong

31303 learners

From the rise of global history as a field to the untold story of early economic globalization, *Muskets and Ledgers* redefines how we view pre-17th-century East Asia. Moving beyond traditional nation-state narratives, this book weaves together two powerful forces: the spread of firearm technology (the "muskets") and interconnected global trade networks built on silver and merchant enterprise (the "ledgers"). It debunks the myth of Ming-era Chinese isolationism, revealing China as the linchpin of early global commerce—by the 18th century, half the world’s silver flowed into its coffers. The text explores shifting East Asian cultural spheres, the crippling border crises facing the late Ming, and the mixed successes of its military reforms: innovations that later propelled the Qing Dynasty to dominance, only to stagnate and set the stage for 19th-century decline. Packed with vivid case studies, from the Manila Galleon trade to the Sino-Japanese Korean War, it offers a sharp, timely look at globalization’s dual nature of opportunity and conflict.

Xiaolin Duan

3.1758 learners

"Object of Seduction" traces the global rise of silk from the 16th century onward, weaving together the intertwined histories of Ming China and colonial Mexico. It explores how silk production transformed economies—from Jiangnan’s booming sericulture and commercialization to Mexico’s colonial silk industry integrated into Spanish imperial systems. The book delves into the game-changing Manila Galleon Trade, which flooded the Americas with Chinese silk, reshaping consumption patterns, sparking fashion revolutions, and triggering silver flows that destabilized the Ming Dynasty. It also examines sumptuary laws in both regions: Ming edicts aimed at preserving social hierarchies, and Mexican rules enforcing racial segregation, while both failed to curb the allure of silk. Through vivid primary sources like *Convenience Manual for Farmers* and *Codex Sierra*, the book reveals silk’s role as a catalyst for cultural fusion, labor shifts, and power struggles, offering insights into how this luxury commodity connected distant worlds and shaped modern global trade.