11. Brainstorm #1
• To understand how would you react to a string of
disasters that threatened your nation, write how you
would rank your priorities as absolute ruler.
•
•
•
•
•
The power of your nation (its territory, resources)
Stability of your nation
Your hold on power
Safety of your people
Create one original priority.
12. Which Monarch Am I?
• Your farm harvests are down dramatically after several years
of natural disasters, leading to famine and claims you are
losing the 'Mandate of Heaven'. Do you.....
A. lower taxes on your people to relieve their burden and
calm their anger?
B. lower taxes on your people... and reduce the size of your
military to save money?
C. increase taxes on your people and increase the size of your
military?
13. Chongzhen
• I chose ‘C’. I am also the last Ming Emperor ever
from 1627 to 1644….
• *I committed suicide after stabbing my daughter
and forcing my wife to kill herself.
14. Which Monarch Am I?
• Your farm harvests are down 60% from normal after a brutally hot
summer that arrived far earlier than expected. The year before,
massive flooding in the spring and fall caused half or more of that
year's harvest to be lost. Do you....
A. purchase grains from unaffected provinces to distribute to your
starving population?
B. invade Northern Italy to prevent a rival country from taking
advantage of that region's famine-induced weakness?
C. invade Northern Italy to take advantage of their famine-induced
weakness and gain control of their harvests?
D. purchase grains from unaffected provinces to distribute to your
hungry military?
16. Review
• What was the main effect of the Little Ice Age on the
stability of nations?
A. Longer and colder winters meant less time for war
fighting, reducing levels of violence.
B. High rates of famine from failed harvests led to unhappy protests
and rebellions.
C. Failed harvests pushed rulers to invade other countries for access
to their resources.
D. Wetter summers and colder winters increased instances of
plague, killing millions.
*** what kind of instability? *** what resources were declining?* Population loss so bad it took 1 century or more to recover (France, Germany, Russia, China
