Transcript Ming Dynasty Notes

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What were some of the issues which led
to the collapse of the Mongol Empire?
How did Confucian policies differ from
those of Emperor Yongle?
For what purpose were the Zheng He
voyages commissioned?
In what ways was the Ming Dynasty a
revival of Chinese culture, like the
Renaissance was a revival of European
culture?
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Inter-Mongol fighting
TAX FARMING = Peasant Rebellions
Plague (1340s)… Effects of the Plague…
Mongols out of China by 1368
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Confucian Exam System Comes Back!
Chinese goods = superior (porcelain, silk,
paper, etc.)
Europeans traded silver for these luxuries–
more silver to China from Americas than any
other society
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Should China focus on internal defense or
external displays of power?
Inward-Focused Policies:
1) Banned overseas voyages
2) Didn’t focus on going OUT and trading
(merchants viewed badly again)
3) Protect from scary pastoralists to the
North
Assumption = People will come to China b/c it
is awesome. China does not need to go to
others.
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New Emperor Yongle in 1403
Establishes new Outward-Focused Policies
Trade increased
Built up the Forbidden City
Zheng He’s Voyages
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Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide
Fleet of 57 vessels
7 voyages- approx. 28,000 traveled
Goals= (Aim to Awe, NOT Attack & NOT Trade)
1) Show off Ming greatness
2) Establish tribute states
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Porcelain and Painting reach new levels of
greatness
Emperor’s use of Confucian rituals & art to
legitimize rule & establish power become more
important
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Mimicked style of
previous CHINESE
Dynasties (like Song)
Focus on Confucian
harmony
Focus on NATURE, not
humans (the opposite of
Renaissance art!
Used to display power
Use of Porcelain –
especially blue and white
ware
The picture on the gate above shows a Confucian scholar on
the left at a desk. It is basically a propaganda piece showing
how the elites bring harmony to society.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What were some of the issues which led to the
collapse of the Mongol Empire?
How did Confucian policies differ from those
of Emperor Yongle?
For what purpose were the Zheng He voyages
commissioned?
How is European Renaissance art and art of
the Ming Dynasty to be compared?