Ming DynastyMing Dynasty

1368-16441368-1644

Territory it ControlledTerritory it Controlled

Korea to Southeast Korea to Southeast AsiaAsia

Decline of Yuan/Rise of the Decline of Yuan/Rise of the MingMing

Civil warCivil war Change of lifeChange of life Repeated natural disastersRepeated natural disasters Massive peasant rebellionsMassive peasant rebellions

Characteristics of the Ming Characteristics of the Ming DynastyDynasty

Last Chinese dynastyLast Chinese dynasty Zenith 15Zenith 15thth c. c. One of China’s most prosperousOne of China’s most prosperous Strong and complex central Strong and complex central

governmentgovernment

Key PeopleKey PeopleZhu Yuanzhang a.k.a.- Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang a.k.a.- Hongwu,

meaning Vast meaning Vast Military Military

– Founder Founder – Favored violenceFavored violence– Created reforms Created reforms – Wanted to erase Mongol pastWanted to erase Mongol past– Maintained a strong militaryMaintained a strong military

Key People cont’dKey People cont’d

YangloYanglo– Pursued aggressive and expansionist Pursued aggressive and expansionist

policiespolicies– Continued Hongwu’s policies and moved Continued Hongwu’s policies and moved

capital to Beijingcapital to Beijing– Launched expeditionsLaunched expeditions

Key People cont’dKey People cont’d

Zheng HeZheng He– Led expeditions to SE Asia, India, and Led expeditions to SE Asia, India, and

eastern coast of Africa starting in 1405eastern coast of Africa starting in 1405– Distributed gifts to show Chinese Distributed gifts to show Chinese

splendorsplendor– Last voyages completed in 1433Last voyages completed in 1433

Foreign RelationsForeign Relations

Isolationists/SuperiorityIsolationists/Superiority Chinese economic policies-Chinese economic policies-

agriculturalagricultural Only government conducted foreign Only government conducted foreign

trade trade Foreign encroachment multiplied- Foreign encroachment multiplied-

Japanese pirates, MongolsJapanese pirates, Mongols

Foreign Relations cont’dForeign Relations cont’d

First Europeans appeared in 1514First Europeans appeared in 1514 PortuguesePortuguese SpanishSpanish Christian missionariesChristian missionaries

SocietySociety

Neo-Confucian bureaucrats pushed Neo-Confucian bureaucrats pushed for agrarian-centered based societyfor agrarian-centered based society

Incredible advances in sciences and Incredible advances in sciences and artsarts

EconomyEconomy

Money was a problem from the startMoney was a problem from the start Initially paper currency Initially paper currency Led to return of copper coinsLed to return of copper coins Outlook on merchants/trade Outlook on merchants/trade Southern China utilizedSouthern China utilized

COPPER COINS

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Development of the novelDevelopment of the novel Wood-cut and block- printingWood-cut and block- printing Blue and white porcelainBlue and white porcelain Encyclopedias Encyclopedias DictionariesDictionaries Great wallGreat wall Far ahead of world in naval Far ahead of world in naval

capabilities at this timecapabilities at this time

BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN

THE GREAT WALL

Fall of the Ming/Rise of the QingFall of the Ming/Rise of the Qing

Internal power struggles Internal power struggles Groups worked to gain sole powerGroups worked to gain sole power Children placed on the throne Children placed on the throne Ming accepted Manchu aidMing accepted Manchu aid