Locating Linkages or Painting Bull's-Eyes around Bullet Holes? An East Asian Perspective on the Seventeenth-Century Crisis.

This article examines the massive social, economic, and political upheaval of the 17th Century from the perspective of East Asia. Historians have long debated the origins and meaning of events in Europe during that time period but China, Japan and others also experienced serious internal conflict. The author explains events surrounding the end of the Ming dynasty in 1644 but wonders if it is helpful to compare events in China to events in Europe. He also speculates on the impact of climate on historical events.