Population Effects

The video discusses the impact of China's growing population on its history, highlighting the stable number of bureaucrats despite population growth. This stability has significant implications for governance, raising questions about China's control over individual lives. The video also explores the reliance on local elites due to bureaucratic constraints, especially under the rule of avoidance, which prevented officials from governing their home territories.

How does China's burgeoning population affect its bureaucratic structure?

What are the implications of having a stable number of bureaucrats in relation to a growing population?

What questions arise regarding the nature of control in China, considering its historical context?

In what ways did the policies during the Mao era contribute to famines in China?

Discuss the role of local elites in governance when bureaucrats are responsible for large populations.