"The subsequent evolution of the Chinese state is one where bureaucratic recruitment and rule became ever more routinized, and this occurred at the expense of hereditary lineages. In western Europe, after the fall of Rome rulers pursued a policy of giving grants of land in exchange for military service. These grants tended to be one-way transactions. Over time this led to the creation of a category of members of society with substantial autonomy. The presence of this group would play a prominent role in the early development of medieval assemblies. In China things pushed in the opposite direction. With the perfection of an imperial examination system during the Tang and Song dynasties, Chinese rulers had at their disposal a means of bureaucratic recruitment that did not depend on societal networks outside of their control. Being a member of the elite now meant being part of the state itself."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
David Stasavage, The Decline and Rise of Democracy: A Global History from Antiquity to Today (2020), pp. 14-15
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/China
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
China
132 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by China →
Related Quotes
"We are also seeing a diffusion of power and competition at the nation state level. This competition comes not just fr…"
"The Chinese are industrious, courageous, honest, and intelligent. They created the splendid ancient Chinese civilizat…"
"The U.S.-China confrontation is not simply a national rivalry, but a conflict of economic and social systems.... From…"
"So far, the world economy, particularly Australia and the United States, have benefited greatly from Chinese economic…"
"Asia now stands at the dawn a new history of civilization to create its own future, finally emerging from the long tu…"
"As a foreign literature it is studied also by the Coreans, the Japanese, and the Annamites; and it may therefore be q…"
"Let us now pause to take stock of some of the results which have accrued from the operation and influence of Confucia…"
"All this saber-rattling is despicable. Neither Russia nor Iran threaten the U.S. and there is no reason why the U.S. …"
"[N]early every political evil can be found on display in China: slavery, discrimination, religious persecution, xenop…"
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will definitely be accompanied by the thriving of Chinese culture."