The Ming DynastyThe Ming DynastyMain Idea:Main Idea:Ming rulers strengthened China’s Ming rulers strengthened China’s government and brought back government and brought back peace and prosperitypeace and prosperity

Ming Dynasty Is about …

Beginnings

Reforms Culture

The Ming Dynasty The Ming Dynasty BeginsBegins In 1368 a rebel leader named Zhu In 1368 a rebel leader named Zhu

Yuanzhang became emperor.Yuanzhang became emperor. He moved the capital to Nanjing, He moved the capital to Nanjing,

in southern China.in southern China. There he founded the Ming, or There he founded the Ming, or

“Brilliant,” dynasty.“Brilliant,” dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty 1368-The Ming Dynasty 1368-16441644

““Military Emperor”Military Emperor” Zhu took the name Zhu took the name

Hong Wu, or Hong Wu, or “Military Emperor.”“Military Emperor.”

He brought back He brought back order, but was a order, but was a cruel leader.cruel leader.

He killed any He killed any officials that he officials that he distrusted.distrusted.

Yong LeYong Le After Hong Wu’s After Hong Wu’s

death, his son death, his son became emperor.became emperor.

He took the He took the name Yong Le.name Yong Le.

In 1421 he In 1421 he moved the moved the capital to Beijing.capital to Beijing.

The Imperial CityThe Imperial City

He built large palaces and government He built large palaces and government buildings.buildings.

The very center of the Imperial City The very center of the Imperial City was known as the Forbidden City.was known as the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden CityThe Forbidden City Only top officials could enter the Only top officials could enter the

Forbidden City, because it was Forbidden City, because it was home to China’s emperors.home to China’s emperors.

It had many beautiful gardens It had many beautiful gardens and many palaces.and many palaces.

The emperor and his court lived The emperor and his court lived there in luxury.there in luxury.

Ming Reforms ChinaMing Reforms China Ming emperors restored the civil Ming emperors restored the civil

service exams.service exams. They carried out a census, or They carried out a census, or

count of the number of people.count of the number of people. With a strong government, the With a strong government, the

economy began to grow.economy began to grow.

Hong Wu’s Hong Wu’s ImprovementsImprovements

Hong Wu had Hong Wu had many of the walls many of the walls and canals rebuilt and canals rebuilt that were that were destroyed by the destroyed by the Mongols.Mongols.

He also ordered He also ordered new forests to be new forests to be planted and new planted and new roads built.roads built.

Ming EconomyMing Economy Agriculture Agriculture

thrivedthrived Grand Canal Grand Canal

expandedexpanded New types of riceNew types of rice Silk industrySilk industry Cotton grownCotton grown

Ming CultureMing Culture Chinese writers produced many Chinese writers produced many

novel, or long fictional stories.novel, or long fictional stories.

Dramas were also performed on Dramas were also performed on stage.stage.

These works included words and These works included words and songs with dances, costumes, and songs with dances, costumes, and symbolic gestures.symbolic gestures.

Ming PorcelainMing Porcelain

China Explores the China Explores the WorldWorld To reach other lands, Ming rulers To reach other lands, Ming rulers

built large fleets of ships.built large fleets of ships. There is now evidence that the There is now evidence that the

Chinese may have reached the Chinese may have reached the Americas 100 years before Americas 100 years before Columbus.Columbus.

Chinese Junk ShipsChinese Junk Ships

These monster ships were about 330 feet long and 132 feet wide.

Zhen HeZhen He

The leader of The leader of many journeys many journeys under emperor under emperor Yong Le, was Yong Le, was Chinese Muslim Chinese Muslim and court official and court official named Zheng Henamed Zheng He

Zheng He’s Voyages 1405–1433

Zheng He FleetZheng He Fleet

His first fleet had 62 large ships, 250 His first fleet had 62 large ships, 250 smaller ships, and almost 25,000 men.smaller ships, and almost 25,000 men.

The largest ship was over 440 feet long, The largest ship was over 440 feet long, five times longer than the Santa Maria.five times longer than the Santa Maria.

Zheng He’s Travels Zheng He’s Travels Zheng He traveled Zheng He traveled

to southeast Asia, to southeast Asia, India, the Persian India, the Persian Gulf to Arabia, and Gulf to Arabia, and even East Africa.even East Africa.

He brought back He brought back silver, spices, silver, spices, wood, and even wood, and even giraffes for the giraffes for the emperor’s zoo.emperor’s zoo.

End of Merchant TradeEnd of Merchant Trade Chinese officials began to Chinese officials began to

complain about the cost of the complain about the cost of the trips and the new ideas from the trips and the new ideas from the outside world.outside world.

After Zheng He’s death, the After Zheng He’s death, the voyages were stopped and the voyages were stopped and the boats dismantled.boats dismantled.

Europeans in ChinaEuropeans in China In 1514 a fleet from In 1514 a fleet from

Portugal arrived in Portugal arrived in China.China.

The Chinese thought The Chinese thought the Europeans were the Europeans were barbarians, or barbarians, or uncivilized people.uncivilized people.

A Portugal trade A Portugal trade center was set up at center was set up at the port of Macao, in the port of Macao, in southern China.southern China.

The Fall of the Ming The Fall of the Ming DynastyDynasty Ming rulers became weak.Ming rulers became weak. Officials became greedy and took Officials became greedy and took

over.over. High taxes were placed on the High taxes were placed on the

peasants.peasants. The Manchus from the north The Manchus from the north

defeated the Chinese armies and defeated the Chinese armies and captured Beijing.captured Beijing.