Transcript The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty
1368 - 1644
• The Ming dynasty
began in 1368, and
lasted until 1644 A.D.
• Its founder was a
peasant, the third of
only three peasants
ever to become an
emperor in China.
• He is known as
Hongwu Emperor
• He led the revolt
against the
Mongols and the
Yuan Dynasty
• The capital was
originally located
in Nanjing
• The third emperor
moved the capital
to Beijing.
• As a result of his
peasant origins,
Hongwu created
laws that
improved the
peasant life.
• He kept the land tax
for the peasants low.
• Kept the granaries
stocked to guard
against famine.
• He also maintained
the dikes on the
Yellow and Yangtze
Rivers.
• However,
economically he
lacked the vision to
push trade.
• He saw trade as
shameful and
parasitic.
• He held the typically
Confucian viewpoint.
• He felt agriculture
should be the
country's source of
wealth.
• He retained the
Confucian view that
being a merchant is
an inferior occupation
However, Hongwu did
not believe that the
military too was
inferior.
He helped develop
a militant class.
• The Ming Dynasty
witnessed a great
cultural development
including the novel
• Some of the best
known novels of the
Ming Dynasty are still
read today.
• Wood-cut and blockprinting of art also
became more popular
at this time.
• New porcelain
experimentation and
production techniques
were developed.
• New encyclopedias
and dictionaries were
also written.
• Including one that
reduced the number
of signs for Chinese
characters from 540
to 214.
• Another great
accomplishment of
the Ming was the
building of the Great
Wall.
• Most of what is seen
today was either built
or repaired by the
Ming.
• The brick and granite
work was enlarged.
• The watch towers
were redesigned.
• Cannons were placed
along the wall.
• Hongwu was forced
to rely on eunuchs for
more administration
purposes.
• Poor families often
gained power when
one of the males
voluntarily became a
eunuch.
• Admiral Zheng He was
such a eunuch.
• The Emperor ordered
him to oversee the
construction of a Fleet
to explore the seas
surrounding China.
• He was the first eunuch
appointed to such a high
military position in China.
• Starting in 1405 A.D.,
he began a series of
seven expeditions
that went around
India and as far as
the east coast of
Africa.
• He traveled to the
West seven times.
For 28 years.
• He traveled more
than 31,000 miles.
• He visited over 30
countries, including
Singapore.
• The first Treasure
Fleet consisted of 62
ships.
• Four were huge wood
boats, some of the
largest ever built in
history.
• They were
approximately 400
feet long and 160 feet
wide.
• In the fall of 1405 the
fleet was ready to
embark with 27,800
men.
• Merchants and trade
in general were still
looked down upon.
• But Cheng He had
established sea
routes that were used
for trade with Japan
and south Asia.
• By 1433 A.D. China
was far ahead of
the rest of the world
in naval capabilities.
• The fleet utilized the
compass, invented
in China, for
navigation.