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The Ming Dynasty Beginning of the Ming -A Chinese army officer leads a rebellion against the crumbling Yuan rule and becomes the new emperor of China. A peasant by origin, he took the name Hong Wu and called his new dynasty “Ming” or, “Brilliant”. Ming Rule -Hong Wu and his successors looked back to the Chinese dynasties (not the Yuan) for inspiration. - Reorganized the tax code, taxing people that had never been taxed before, like scholars. -All Mongols were expelled from Chinese government. The Exam system is restored and made even harder. -Trade and new technology helped to make farming more efficient and make the Ming a true Golden Age of China. The Voyages of Zheng He -Using the best ships in the world (Chinese ships), the emperors of Ming sent out seven sea voyages. - The leader of the Voyages was a Chinese Muslim and eunuch named Zheng He. - Zheng He traveled all over Southeast Asia, India and even Africa. - His travels resulted in trade and tribute for China. As well, he returned with stories, animals and all sorts of fantastic things from the rest of the world. Beijing and the Forbidden City -The Ming Emperors moved their capital to the city of Beijing. -There, the Emperors and their families will live until the end of Imperial Chinese History.
