Control

Definition

Control refers to the power or authority to direct, manage, or influence people, resources, and events. In historical contexts, this term is often linked to governance, military dominance, and economic management, reflecting how empires and states exercised power over their territories and subjects. Understanding control in these contexts can shed light on the dynamics of power relations, cultural exchanges, and the stability of regions during different historical periods.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the period from 1200 to 1450 in East Asia, control was often established through centralized bureaucracies that managed vast territories efficiently.
2. The Mongol Empire exemplified control through its vast network of communication and trade routes, which facilitated governance across diverse cultures.
3. In maritime empires established after 1450, control was exerted not just through military might but also via trade monopolies and alliances with local powers.
4. Control was a key aspect of how dynasties in East Asia maintained power, including using Confucian principles to legitimize their authority.
5. Maritime empires often faced challenges in maintaining control over distant colonies due to logistical difficulties and resistance from indigenous populations.

Review Questions

• How did the concept of control manifest in the governance systems of East Asian states between 1200 and 1450?
  • In East Asia from 1200 to 1450, control was primarily exercised through centralized bureaucracies that reinforced the authority of ruling dynasties. For example, the Song and Ming dynasties implemented rigorous administrative systems that employed Confucian ideals to ensure loyalty and compliance among officials and subjects. This structure enabled rulers to maintain social order, regulate economic activities, and project power over vast territories.
• Analyze the methods maritime empires used to establish and maintain control over their colonies after 1450.
  • Maritime empires utilized various methods to establish control over their colonies after 1450. They often relied on military force to conquer territories but supplemented this with economic strategies like trade monopolies that ensured dominance in global markets. Additionally, forming alliances with local leaders and integrating indigenous populations into colonial economies helped solidify their control while minimizing resistance.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of control exercised by East Asian dynasties and maritime empires on contemporary global relations.
  • The long-term impacts of control by East Asian dynasties and maritime empires significantly shaped contemporary global relations by laying foundational structures for trade networks and diplomatic interactions. The tributary system established by East Asian states influenced regional dynamics by promoting a hierarchical view of international relations that persists in some forms today. Meanwhile, the legacy of colonial control led to ongoing challenges related to sovereignty, cultural identity, and economic disparities in formerly colonized regions, which continue to affect global relations.

Related terms

Mandate of Heaven:

An ancient Chinese philosophical concept that justified the rule of the Emperor, suggesting that the right to govern was granted by divine authority.

Tributary System: A system where neighboring states acknowledged the superiority of a more powerful state by paying tribute, thereby maintaining political and economic control.

Colonialism:

The practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.