Transcript 4-4 Ming Dynasty

4-4 Notes - The Ming Dynasty
Rise of the Ming
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Kublai Khan died in 1294 ACE
and Mongol power slowly began
to erode
1368 ACE – Zhu Yuanzhang
drove out the the Mongols,
established the Ming (“brilliant”)
dynasty. He took the name Hong
Wu and established his capitol at
Nanjing.
He was cruel leader who kept his
power (30 years) through fear
and intimidation, often killing
officials suspected of treason.
His son Yong Le became
emperor in 1398 ACE, moving
the capitol to Beijing.
In Beijing he built the Imperial
City (Forbidden City), which
included a large area of palaces
and government buildings that
was cut off to most people.
Ming Reforms
• Restored the civil service
exam system and made it
more difficult.
• Compiled censuses to
count people and collect
taxes more accurately.
• Hong Wu ordered canals
and roads to be rebuilt and
new forests to be planted.
• Repaired the Grand Canal
to help ship goods faster.
• Imported new types of rice
from Southeast Asia that
grew faster to help feed
more people.
Chinese Culture
• Merchants and artisans
became wealthier and
supported the
development of new
art.
• Chinese writers
developed the novel, a
long fictional story.
• Chinese also enjoyed
drama that combined
on stage spoken words
and songs with dances,
costumes, and
symbolic gestures.
Chinese Exploration
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The Ming were interested in exploring the
world outside of China and expanding their
power, influence, and economy.
1405 ACE - 1431 ACE, Yong Le sent out a
series of seven overseas voyages. He
wanted to trade with other kingdoms, show
off China’s power, and force weaker
kingdoms to pay tribute to China.
Leader of the voyages was Zheng He, a
Chinese Muslim and court official.
Traveled to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia,
and East Africa.
Traded goods such as silk, paper, and
porcelain and brought back silver, spices,
wood, and other goods and even animals
such as giraffes.
Merchants from China settled in Southeast
Asia and India to trade. They spread
culture as well.
Chinese officials complained that the trips
were too costly, brought in outside ideas
that harmed China’s purity and integrity,
and only benefited merchants.
After He’s death in 1433, the officials
persudaded the emperor to stop the
voyages and dismantle the ships.
Europeans in China
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1514 ACE - Portuguese ships
arrived off the coast of China.
First contact between China
and Europe since Marco Polo.
Portuguese tried to trade with
China and convert them to
Catholicism. Chinese thought
that the Europeans were
barbarians and refused to
trade with them.
By 1600 ACE, they allowed
Portugal to set up a trading
post at the port of Macao.
Catholic Missionaries, mostly
Jesuit priests, attempted but
failed to convert most Chinese
people. Their scientific
knowledge and instruments
such as glasses and clocks
impressed the Chinese though.
Fall of the Ming Dynasty
• One reason the Ming
dynasty began to decline
was that emperors had
concentrated so much
power that officials had little
desire to participate in and
improve the government.
• Greedy officials overtaxed
peasants and incited
revolts.
• The Manchus (from
Manchuria) attacked China
from the north and defeated
the Ming armies, capturing
the capitol of Beijing.
• They set up a new dynasty
in 1644 ACE, ending the
Ming Dynasty.