For centuries China's claim to superiority was probably valid. ... However, by the nineteenth century, the economic and military superiority of the West over China had become apparent. ... By the late nineteenth century, foreign powers had massively increased their presence and control in China. ... As Western interest began to increase in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Japanese authorities became concerned at the possibility of Western political interference, the effects of Christian thinking on the feudal system, and the threat of invasion. ... By the last decade of the ni...

• Word Count: 1796
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The people of Ming China experienced many hardships in a truly extreme time of crises and tribulation during the 17th century. ... Spence illustrates through repeated graphic examples how horribly miserable the two-quarters of the seventeen-century were to the diminishing population of the county. ... Spence give the reader a closer look on the financial struggle of an ordinary seventeenth century farmer. ... Spence defines the meaning of property in seventeen century China. ... The role of men and women of 17th century society are defined vividly in this book. ...

• Word Count: 1409
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Despite the huge changes in Europe's social and economic structure from the 12th century on, capitalism as a working economic institution did not progress past the embryo stage until well into the 16th century. ... Such organizations existed in Europe throughout most of the Middle Ages, originating in around the twelfth century and continuing to exist well into the eighteenth century. These medieval "guilds," as they were called, were most prevalent and powerful during the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries. ... Thus, guilds soon became nothing more than oppressively organized...

• Word Count: 2084
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

According to Wikipedia, in the Western world, until the seventeenth century, hysteria referred to a medical condition thought to be particular to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus. Then, by the mid to late 19th century, hysteria (or sometimes female hysteria) came to refer to what is today generally considered to be "female sexual dysfunction". ... Note that the author of the book, Ding Ling, was one of the most popular writers in the 20th century. ...

• Word Count: 1679
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School