History is often described through the changes that take place in a society or in the world. These changes are often described as the end of something that is outdated or stands on the way of progress, and something else starts up to take its place. It is the cliché: “Out with the Old, in with the New.” The term ancien régime when used in a broad sense, describes the fundamental old political and social structure of a country. The term is usually used in French history describe French society prior to the French Revolution; however, historians will use it in other contexts. In China the ancien régime is used to describe the long history of imperial dynasties in China, especially the Ming and Qing dynasties. This period had a long standing political
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One was that they were essential to society, and the other was that they were rebels that needed to managed. These stereotypes worked in relationship to natural disasters and other problems. If leaders were able to fix problems when they arose then peasants would not rebel, but if the government seemed to be unable to resolve problems then the peasants would rebel against the government. However, this is not how peasants experienced day to day life and viewed the social system they were a part of. To the average peasant there was not a great divide that existed between peasants and gentry. Peasant women had their feet bond just like wealthier women. In her story, A Daughter of Han, Ning Lao T’ai-t’ai talks about working for many different people as a maid during the same time as the 1911 Revolution. When she was working for a military officer she and the other maids would play cards with their master. He saw no problem in socializing with them and they saw no problem in it either. Ning enjoyed life with the various masters she lived with. In the book she only briefly mentions the 1911 Revolution. She was not involved in the political structure of the empire. For her and other peasants, social live did not change because of the 1911 Revolution. The social systems of the ancien régime that effected peasants remained in
One was that they were essential to society, and the other was that they were rebels that needed to managed. These stereotypes worked in relationship to natural disasters and other problems. If leaders were able to fix problems when they arose then peasants would not rebel, but if the government seemed to be unable to resolve problems then the peasants would rebel against the government. However, this is not how peasants experienced day to day life and viewed the social system they were a part of. To the average peasant there was not a great divide that existed between peasants and gentry. Peasant women had their feet bond just like wealthier women. In her story, A Daughter of Han, Ning Lao T’ai-t’ai talks about working for many different people as a maid during the same time as the 1911 Revolution. When she was working for a military officer she and the other maids would play cards with their master. He saw no problem in socializing with them and they saw no problem in it either. Ning enjoyed life with the various masters she lived with. In the book she only briefly mentions the 1911 Revolution. She was not involved in the political structure of the empire. For her and other peasants, social live did not change because of the 1911 Revolution. The social systems of the ancien régime that effected peasants remained in