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Ming Dynasty 1368-1644. Establishment of Ming Dynasty Reasons for Ming Success Ming Economy and Society Integration with World Economy Threats to Stability Arrival of Europeans – explorers, merchants, missionaries Conclusion. Ming Dynasty 1368-1644. Establishment of the Ming Dynasty.
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Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 • Establishment of Ming Dynasty • Reasons for Ming Success • Ming Economy and Society • Integration with World Economy • Threats to Stability • Arrival of Europeans – explorers, merchants, missionaries • Conclusion
Establishment of the Ming Dynasty • Centralized bureaucratic regime • Traditions of rule and government • Integrated society • Rejection of sinicized Mongols • Loss of mandate of heaven by Mongol rulers • Establishment of Ming dynasty by peasant, Zhu Yuanzhang
Sources of Strength • Confucianism: • Ideology • Educational system • Family-state connection and patriarchy • Neo-Confucianism
Ming Government • Strong Emperors: • Direct involvement in government • Hongwu Emperor (r. 1368-1398) established Ming capital at Nanking (Nanjing) • Yongle Emperor (r. 1403-1425) • Troops sent into Northern Vietnam • Set up elaborate tribute system • Promoted maritime expeditions to Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Gulf and East Africa (1403-1433) under Zheng He, but last one sent in the 1470s
Government Finances and the Economy Importance of taxes Population growth Increased agricultural yield and products
Ming Bureaucracy • Importance of competent officials: • Structure of government based on Tang-Song models • Grand Secretariat, Censorate, Military, etc. • Multiple levels of government • Mandarins = government officials
Elegant Gathering in the Apricot Garden, c. 1437 Artistic representation of Chinese scholar- bureaucrats in the Ming dynasty
Portrait of a Ming dynasty scholar-official of the highest rank (jinshi)
Education and Officials • Importance of scholar-officials • Civil service examination system: • Based on Confucian classics • Staffed the government bureaucracy • Elaborate and intensive system of exams
Ming Gentry • Growth in numbers and importance in Ming dynasty: • Intermediaries between government and people • Chinese gentry • Link to local politics and education • Source of stability
Ming Economy and Society • Increased interaction between China and the rest of the world, including Europe, by 1500 • Rising demand for Chinese goods led to expansion of the economy and later to negative effects on internal affairs • Arrival of European missionaries and merchants in the sixteenth century
Integration of Ming China in the World Economy • The effect of rapid growth in textile and porcelain industries on: • Agriculture • Currency • Trade • Cities
Urban Life in Ming China • Increased population • Diverse urban society • Dynamic urban culture • Urban economy: • Small businesses • Factories
Problems in Ming China • Lack of technology • Corruption • Poor harvests • Inflation – influx of silver
Spanish Silver Coins Used in China Spanish Colonial Cob Spanish Pillar Dollar
Arrival of Europeans to Ming China • Reasons for European exploration • Navigation around the Cape of Good Hope – Vasco da Gama (1498) • Arrival of Portuguese in China, 1513 – expelled in 1533 – right to trade in Macao, 1557 • Limited contact between foreigners and Chinese
Missionaries in East Asia • Franciscans – appealed to the masses • Dominicans – appealed to the masses • Jesuits, such as Matteo Ricci – appealed to the scholar-elites and gentry in China • Matteo Ricci’s career and strategy in China
Matteo Ricci dressed in traditional robes of Chinese scholar
Ricci’s Success at Court • Knowledge of science and gave gifts to the Imperial Court • Adapted Catholic Christianity to Chinese cultural traditions • Primary Source: “On Chinese Government – Selections from his Journals” • In Beijing 1601-1610 with imperial stipend • European appreciation and knowledge of Chinese culture = sinology
Conclusion • Early Ming dynasty’s sources of strength: • Confucianism; Strong emperors; Improved government finances; Competent officials; Increased role and influence of the gentry • Latter half of Ming dynasty marked by economic prosperity, but with both positive and negative effects on Chinese society • Exacerbation of internal problems • Arrival of Europeans upset balance of power and influence within East Asia