This lecture examines the complexities of dynastic decline within 18th-century China, a period marked by both splendor and ominous indicators of impending societal upheaval. Despite the zenith of Chinese civilization under emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, signs of decline emerge, heralding profound transformations. The lecture elucidates key factors contributing to this decline, notably the exponential population growth, strains on the national treasury due to military campaigns, and the decay of the military apparatus. Furthermore, it examines the failure of mechanisms to cope with burgeoning populations, the absence of technological and cultural advances, and challenges posed by evidentiary scholarship. These converging factors set the stage for unprecedented societal and geopolitical shifts in the ensuing decades.
