The Ming Dynasty

1. The Ming Dynasty As Presented By Tyler Kost and Lee Downey

2. Overview • Lasted 1368-1644 • Hongwu (1368-1398) • Zhengtong/Tianshun (1435-1449) • Jiajing (1521-1567) • Wanli (1572-1620) • Chongzhen (1627-1655) • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Chinese_history#Ming_Dynasty

3. Hongwu Emperor • He was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. • Also known by his Chinese name: Zhu Yuanzhang. • Had many wives; Hongwu means "vastly martial". • Zhu proclaimed himself Emperor of China in 1368. • Nanjing was the original capital of his dynasty and remained so for the majority of the dynasty.

4. Zhengtong/Tianshun • Ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449. • Ruled as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464. • Zhengtong's accession at the age of eight made him the first child emperor of the dynasty. • At the age of 22, in 1449, he was imprisoned by the Mongols and this reduced Zhengtong's imperial status and he was granted the title of "grand emperor.“ • The Zhengtong Emperor was released one year later in 1450. • He returns to the throne in 1457 and named his second reign Tianshun (means "heavenly obedience") and went on to rule for another seven years.

5. Jiajing • Born Zhu Houcong, he was the 11th Ming Dynasty Emperor of China who ruled from 1521 to 1567. His era name means "Admirable tranquility". • Starting in 1550, Beijing was enlarged by adding the "Outer" or "Chinese City". • The Ming dynasty had enjoyed a long period of peace during his rule. • He was a devoted follower of Taoism and attempted to suppress Buddhism. • After 45 years on the throne (the second longest reign in the Ming dynasty), he died in 1567.

6. Wanli • Wanli ascended the throne at the age of 9. • He was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. • China prospered during the first half of his reign. • During the latter years of his reign, he seldom attended state affairs and for years at a time he would refuse to receive his ministers or read any reports sent to him. He also extorted huge amounts of money for his own personal pleasure. • His reign is representative of the decline of the Ming Dynasty. He was an unmotivated and avaricious ruler whose reign was plagued with fiscal woes, military pressures, and angry bureaucrats.

7. Chongzhen • Born Zhu Youjian, he was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty. • He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious". • Chongzhen tried to rule by himself and did his best to salvage the dynasty. However, years of internal corruption and an empty treasury made it almost impossible to find capable ministers to fill important government posts. • The collapse of the Ming intensified during Chongzhen's reign and popular uprisings broke out throughout China. • capture, humiliation and probable execution at the hands of the newly-proclaimed Shun Dynasty, he killed himself and his family in 1644.

8. Major Achievments of the Ming Dynasty • Constructed the capital city of Beijing • Constructed or refurbished much of the Great Wall • Established the Forbidden City in Beijing • The Ming Dynasty saw fewer technological and scientific advances compared to some of the other dynasties such as the Song Dynasty. • The economy of the Ming Dynasty was very advanced for their time. It was also considered one of the largest economies of that time period.

9. Ming-era Inventions • Paper and Printing • Bristle Toothbrush • Ship Rudders • Acupuncture

10. Outside Contact • China almost completely cut off all contact to Japan. • In May 1513, it was Rafael Perestrello—a cousin of the famed Christopher Columbus—who became the first European explorer to land on the southern coast of mainland China and trade in Guangzhou in 1516. • Portuguese acted as a middle man between China and Japan, trading silver and silk. • The Spanish sent Christian missionaries to China, to little success.