History Quiz Section 3: the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Qianlong

Emperor of the Qing dynasty from 1735 to 1796; he was the grandson of Kangxi. During his reign, China expanded to its greatest size. He limited foreign contacts and ordered traders to conduct business with the Chinese government, not with private merchants. (p. 512)

Hongqu

First emperor of the Ming dynasty in China; he drove the Mongols out of China, Korea, and Manchuria. He concentrated all power in his own hands. (p. 510)

Zheng He

Admiral, diplomat, and explorer during China's Ming dynasty; his Chinese fleet visited more than 30 countries. (p. 510) ruled from 1405-1433 Between 1405 and 1433 Zheng He (juhng HUH), a Chinese Muslim admiral, led seven voyages around the Indian Ocean as far as Africa. To show China's power, Zheng He sailed with huge fleets of as many as 300 ships. These fleets included trading ships called junks as well as immense treasure ships, each about 400 feet long. Wherever he went, Zheng He presented gifts from China, and in return several foreign leaders sent tribute to China's emperor.

Kanxi

Chinese emperor of the Qing dynasty from 1661 to 1722; his reign was one of relative internal peace. He constructed many public works and was a patron of the arts. (p. 512)

How did the Ming dynasty bring stability, prosperity, and isolation to China?

Hongwu worked to rebuild China. He reduced taxes and passed reforms to improve agriculture and trade, increasing stability and prosperity in China. In addition, Hongwu worked to eliminate Mongol influences and to revive traditional Chinese values and practices, such as Confucian principles. To root out corruption, he increased the influence of censors, officials who monitored government. He did away with the positions of some high-level officials and took over more control of the government. As a result, the Ming emperors were much more powerful than emperors of previous dynasties. In addition, Hongwu eliminated anyone whom he saw as challenging his authority, and over time he had thousands of his rivals killed.At the center of Beijing, he built a vast imperial city, which was surrounded by high walls. This city complex became known as the Forbidden City because most people were forbidden from entering it. Improved methods of irrigation increased farm production, and peasants produced huge crops of rice in the southern river valleys. In addition, new crops from the Americas, such as corn and sweet potatoes, reached China in the 1500s. These crops further increased farm output. Stability and plentiful food led to substantial population growth.

Matten Ricci

Italian missionary; he traveled to China in 1583. He learned the language and adopted many Chinese customs, which gained him entry to the Ming court. He introduced China to European learning in mathematics, science, and technology. (p. 511)

Yonglo

Third emperor of the Ming dynasty in China; he ordered the reconstruction of Beijing and made it the new capital of China. He also commissioned an encyclopedia that covered history, philosophy, literature, astronomy, medicine, and numerous other topics. (p. 510) ruled from 1402-1424

What cultural developments occurred during the Ming and Qing?

Under Ming and Qing rule, the Chinese made many developments in the arts and literature. Ming artisans produced exquisite blue-and-white porcelain. The beauty and superb quality of Ming porcelain made it a valuable trade item, especially in Europe. During the Ming period, rising literacy rates contributed to the growth of popular fiction, or fiction written in everyday language for the common people. Short stories became more popular, and the first Chinese novels were published.

How did the Manchus of Qing dynasty rule China?

Under the Qing dynasty's Manchu rulers, China again grew prosperous and expanded to its largest size in history. The Manchu showed respect for Chinese customs and maintained China's Confucian traditions. The Manchu rulers carried over much of the Ming government structure and continued the civil service examination system. In addition, government positions were distributed equally among Chinese and Manchu officials. These actions eventually earned the Manchu the respect and loyalty of many of their Chinese subjects and restored stability to the empire.The Manchu remained separate from the Chinese and placed some restrictions on them. Manchu were not allowed to marry Chinese, and Manchu women were forbidden to bind their feet as Chinese women did. In addition, Chinese males had to wear their hair in the Manchu style—shaved in the front with a queue, or braid, in the back.