ThesocialstructureandhistoricaltrendsoflateimperialChina,especiallyduringthelasttwodynasties,namelytheMing(1368–1644)andQing(1644–1911)dynasties,haveattractedextensiveacademicattentionamongbothChineseandoverseashistorians.Whileeveryresearcherhashis/herparticularinterestofstudy,theoverwhelmingconcernofthesetypesofstudiesistheexistingorpotentialcompatibilityoflateimperialChinawithmodernsociety.
