Ming Dynasty
What happened in Ming China Isolation?
1500s Ming heavily restricted foreign trade and travel; only at certain places at certain times (Canton) and for defense against Mongol threats to the North
Art & Literature
Ming artisans produced white & blue porcelain which became a valuable trade item in Europe, short stories became popular, first Chinese novels were published, and rising literacy rates due to the growth of popular fiction so common people could read
Reasons for Ming Isolation?
Ming disliked the influence of Europeans who brought American ideas/products and wanted to preserve China's tradition
Censors
officials who monitored the government to help root out corruption
Ming Culture
porcelain and silk industries expanded due to a growing demand for Chinese goods, mainly an agricultural society
What did Hongwu do?
reduced taxes, passed reforms to improve agriculture and trade, revived Chinese values and principles (Confucianism), improved civil service examination system, increased influence of censors, and expanded his power and an emperor
How long was the Ming Dynasty?
1368-1644
Hongwu
(1368-1398), peasant who founded Ming Dynasty who worked to rebuild China after Mongols
Yonglo
(1402-1424), Hongwu's son who moved capital to Beijing and built Forbidden city, sponsored overseas voyages to extend influence
Where was the Ming Empire?
China, Korea, Mongolia, parts of central and southeast asia
Zheng He
Chinese Muslim Admiral who led 7 voyages with huge fleets around Indian Ocean as far as africa, traded gifts from China for tribute to China's emperor
Matteo Ricci
Italian Jesuit priest who arrived in China in 1583 who adopted Chinese culture and gained acceptance in Court where he introduced European ideas about math and science
How did the Ming empire arise?
Kublai Khan & Yuan dynasty fell in late 1200s and resentment in China allowed for the rise of a new dynasty
Manchu v. Ming
Manchu took Beijing in 1644 and emperor killed himself to avoid capture
How did Hongwu gain individual power?
got rid of high-power government officials and eliminated/killed any threats to his authority
Ming Economy
improved methods of irrigation increased farm production, peasants produced huge crops of rice, and new crops from Americas in 1500s all led to increased farm output and population/city growth
Why did Ming restore Great Wall?
to improve defense against the Mongol threat to the North
Ming Decline
weak rulers took the throne in late 1500s and corruption increased, crop failures, taxes, and rebellions