At the Spanish Empire's height, was it more or less powerful than Ming China at the time?
Depends on how you define "powerful". Both countries exercised power in completely different ways.
Define height for either(both also changed monarchies a few decades apart)???
Yes, otherwise the Philippines wouldn't have become Spanish. If the Chinese had been stronger they would have intervened successfully and kicked the Spanish out of a group of islands that the Chinese had important trade colonies in.Also it’s when Spain was at its height was it stronger than China at that time.
Yes.
And no.
Each was more powerful in certain areas they needed to be powerful in. Spain could not have conquered a China, nor vice-versa if that’s what you are wondering.
Depends where it’s being fought and why. China’s biggest strength, it’s dominant position in its area is simultaneously its massive weakness. It can’t concentrate risk concentrating abroad in case it was attacked at home.Not so much a conquest (full on occupation impossible) but if a war occurred for strategic ports and other locations.
Also the wealth of the nations, international prestige (Who was more respected overall).
Spain was wealthier when we talk about specie, and China knew it. China only accepted silver and gold (and animal pelts) because there was nothing manufactured that the Europeans made (except cuckoo clocks) that the Chinese found interesting (except opium). Spain had gold and silver in abundance, the Chinese didn't.Also the wealth of the nations, international prestige (Who was more respected overall).
Exactly. They didn't have 20th century technology like Imperial Japan infamously did.Each was prestigious to different countries. China was undoubtedly the most prestigious country in Asia, Spain was one of the most prestigious countries in Europe. I honestly don't think there was ever a point Spain could have invaded China and faced even moderate success. Even when China was at its weakest Spain did not have the force projection for such a monumental task.
Height meaning multiple things (and I should have clarified this earlier so thank you for pointing this out):
1) Economic power
2) Military capability
3)If they fought a war
4) Prestige
right China was not really a naval power. However if say we teleported the largest possible army that Spain could have fielded and ming could have fielded around 1600 to the same location and had them fight ming would have easily won. As far as naval power goes. It is much harder to say. Ming was not a major naval power compared to dynastys like the song dynasty but it is hard to compare navies.To be fair, China also couldn't ever invade Spain in this time period.
Why? Because they could field bigger armies? That's not a very good reason. What if the Spanish army was highly motivated and the Ming army was not? What if the Spanish were fighting on favorable ground? There are many factors that determine an army's success. I can't think of why the Ming would be just *inherently* superior.right China was not really a naval power. However if say we teleported the largest possible army that Spain could have fielded and ming could have fielded around 1600 to the same location and had them fight ming would have easily won.
It's not THAT hard to compare. Ever heard of the battle of Cape Celidonia? The Spanish defeated a much larger Ottoman fleet right off their own coastline, mostly due to superior ship technology (galleons vs. galleys). This was only 40 years after Lapanto, mind you. A Chinese fleet would be severely disadvantaged if it faced a Spanish fleet at its height.As far as naval power goes. It is much harder to say. Ming was not a major naval power compared to dynastys like the song dynasty but it is hard to compare navies.