1 / 28

The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty. Main Idea: Ming rulers strengthened China’s government and brought back peace and prosperity. Ming Dynasty. Is about …. Beginnings. Reforms. Culture. The Ming Dynasty Begins. In 1368 a rebel leader named Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor.

annot
Download Presentation

The Ming Dynasty

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Ming Dynasty Main Idea: Ming rulers strengthened China’s government and brought back peace and prosperity

  2. Ming Dynasty Is about … Beginnings Reforms Culture

  3. The Ming Dynasty Begins • 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.

  4. The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644

  5. “Military Emperor” • 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.

  6. Yong Le • After Hong Wu’s death, his son became emperor. • He took the name Yong Le. • In 1421 he moved the capital to Beijing.

  7. The Imperial City • He built large palaces and government buildings. • The very center of the Imperial City was known as the Forbidden City.

  8. The Forbidden City • 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.

  9. Ming Reforms China • 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.

  10. Hong Wu’s Improvements • 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.

  11. Ming Economy • Agriculture thrived • Grand Canal expanded • New types of rice • Silk industry • Cotton grown

  12. Ming Culture • 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.

  13. Ming Porcelain

  14. China Explores the World • 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.

  15. Chinese Junk Ships These monster ships were about 330 feet long and 132 feet wide.

  16. Zhen He • The leader of many journeys under emperor Yong Le, was Chinese Muslim and court official named Zheng He

  17. Zheng He’s Voyages1405–1433

  18. Zheng He Fleet • 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.

  19. Zheng He’s Travels • 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.

  20. End of Merchant Trade • 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.

  21. Europeans in China • 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.

  22. The Fall of the Ming Dynasty • 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.

More Related