Timothy Brook, "The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China," (University of California Press, 1999)

The Ming dynasty was the last great Chinese dynasty before the Manchu conquest in 1644. During that time, China, not Europe, was the center of the world: the European voyages of exploration were searching not just for new lands but also for new trade routes to the Far East. In this book, Timothy Brook eloquently narrates the changing landscape of life over the three centuries of the Ming (1368-1644), when China was transformed from a closely administered agrarian realm into a place of commercial profits and intense competition for status.The Confusions of Pleasure marks a significant departure from the conventional ways in which Chinese history has been written. Rather than recounting the Ming dynasty in a series of political events and philosophical achievements, it narrates this longue durée in terms of the habits and strains of everyday life. Peppered with stories of real people and their negotiations of a rapidly changing world, this book provides a new way of seeing the Ming dynasty that not only contributes to the scholarly understanding of the period but also provides an entertaining and accessible introduction to Chinese history for anyone. The Confusions of Pleasure by Timothy Brook Ming Dynasty History and Social Life Transformation of Ming China (1368-1644) Everyday Life in the Ming Dynasty Agrarian to Commercial Society in Ming China Trade Routes and European Exploration to the Far East Ming Dynasty Commercial Profits and Social Competition China’s Global Influence Before the Manchu Conquest Timothy Brook on Ming China’s Social Transformation Longue Durée Approach to Ming Dynasty History Ming China’s Economic and Cultural Shifts Chinese Trade Networks and European Voyages Social Strains and Daily Life in Ming China Narratives of Real People in Ming History Accessible Introduction to Chinese History East Asian Studies Podcast Chinese History Podcast Ming History Ming Dynasty