13
A. The fall of the Ming 1. The major factors of Ming collapse • Political decline at court • Weakening of the military system • financial bankruptcy 2. Rebellions and Social Unrest • External threats • Rebellions B. Court politics: Eunuchs and literati 1. The formal structure of Ming government 2. The personal staff of the emperor: Eunuchs 3. Eunuch and court politics C. The rise of the Manchus 1. Origins - Who were the Manchus? 2. Nurhaci (1559-1626): forging a Manchu polity • The Aisin Gioro clan 愛新覺羅 • Organization building • Hosoi beile 和碩貝勒 • War against the Ming 3. Abahai/ Huangtaiji (1592-1643): building an empire
