Transcript The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty
Main Idea:
Ming rulers strengthened China’s
government and brought back peace
and prosperity
Ming Dynasty
Beginning
s
Is about …
Reforms
Culture
The Ming Dynasty Begins
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In 1368 a rebel leader named Zhu
Yuanzhang became emperor.
He moved the capital to Nanjing, in
southern China.
There he founded the Ming, or
“Brilliant,” dynasty.
The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
“Military Emperor”
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Zhu took the name
Hong Wu, or
“Military Emperor.”
He brought back
order, but was a
cruel leader.
He killed any
officials that he
distrusted.
Yong Le
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After Hong Wu’s
death, his son
became emperor.
He took the name
Yong Le.
In 1421 he moved
the capital to
Beijing.
The Imperial City
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He built large palaces and government
buildings.
The very center of the Imperial City was
known as the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City
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Only top officials could enter the
Forbidden City, because it was home
to China’s emperors.
It had many beautiful gardens and
many palaces.
The emperor and his court lived there
in luxury.
Ming Reforms China
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Ming emperors restored the civil
service exams.
They carried out a census, or count of
the number of people.
With a strong government, the
economy began to grow.
Hong Wu’s Improvements
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Hong Wu had many
of the walls and
canals rebuilt that
were destroyed by
the Mongols.
He also ordered
new forests to be
planted and new
roads built.
Ming Economy
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Agriculture thrived
Grand Canal
expanded
New types of rice
Silk industry
Cotton grown
Ming Culture
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Chinese writers produced many novel,
or long fictional stories.
Dramas were also performed on stage.
These works included words and
songs with dances, costumes, and
symbolic gestures.
Ming Porcelain
China Explores the World
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To reach other lands, Ming rulers built
large fleets of ships.
There is now evidence that the
Chinese may have reached the
Americas 100 years before Columbus.
Chinese Junk Ships
These monster
ships were about
330 feet long and
132 feet wide.
Zhen He
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The leader of many
journeys under
emperor Yong Le,
was Chinese Muslim
and court official
named Zheng He
Zheng He’s Voyages 1405–1433
Zheng He Fleet
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His first fleet had 62 large ships, 250 smaller
ships, and almost 25,000 men.
The largest ship was over 440 feet long, five
times longer than the Santa Maria.
Zheng He’s Travels
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Zheng He traveled
to southeast Asia,
India, the Persian
Gulf to Arabia, and
even East Africa.
He brought back
silver, spices, wood,
and even giraffes
for the emperor’s
zoo.
End of Merchant Trade
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Chinese officials began to complain
about the cost of the trips and the
new ideas from the outside world.
After Zheng He’s death, the voyages
were stopped and the boats
dismantled.
Europeans in China
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In 1514 a fleet from
Portugal arrived in
China.
The Chinese thought
the Europeans were
barbarians, or
uncivilized people.
A Portugal trade center
was set up at the port
of Macao, in southern
China.
The Fall of the Ming
Dynasty
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Ming rulers became weak.
Officials became greedy and took over.
High taxes were placed on the
peasants.
The Manchus from the north defeated
the Chinese armies and captured
Beijing.