Final answer:
From 1450-1800, China maintained its imperial governance and Confucian bureaucratic system, saw economic continuity in agriculture and changes in international trade, especially with the inflow of American silver, and experienced cultural exchanges influenced by European contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
Economic and Political Continuities and Changes in China (1450-1800)
To evaluate the political and economic continuities and changes in China from 1450 to 1800, one must consider various historical periods, especially the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
During this era, China saw the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty and the emergence of the Qing Dynasty.
The political structure was characterized by imperial rule under the emperors, maintaining a Confucian bureaucratic system anchored by the civil service examination.
Regarding economic continuities, both dynasties pursued agricultural productivity to support a growing population.
However, a significant change occurred in China’s foreign trade, especially following contact with Portuguese traders in the 1550s.
This period also saw the acceptance of silver as a primary commodity for trade, largely due to the influx of silver from the Spanish colonies in the Americas.
Nonetheless, the adherence to Confucian fiscal policy of minimal taxation remained consistent until the late 18th century.
Art and culture were highly developed, seeing continuities in the importance placed on Chinese art and standards.
However, changes were evident with increased European interaction, bringing in new ideas, religion, and eventually conflicts.
By 1800, European intrusions began significantly affecting China's internal order, contributing to the weakening of the Qing government.
The autonomous regions and ethnicity in modern China have their roots in historical occupation and integration of diverse peoples under the imperial Chinese state, but this period mostly predates the rise of these concepts.
Population dynamics saw immense growth, and while the one-child policy is a significant aspect of modern China, it is beyond the scope of this historical period.
In summary, China's period from 1450 to 1800 was marked by persisting imperial governance and Confucian bureaucratic practices, which saw both steadiness in internal economic policies and profound developments in foreign trade and cultural exchanges.