Civilizations in China

Reign of the Ming Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty • Before the Ming Dynasty• 1279-1368• Leader: Kublai Khan• Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew Kublai Khan• Zhu became Hong Wu• Renamed the dynasty: Ming (brilliant)

Yuan Dynasty

Ming Dynasty• Ruling power from 1368 when Khan was

overthrown• Time of reformation of the civil service• Before, citizens had to pass tests to obtain

government jobs (Thanks to Tang and Song dynasties)

• System became corrupt and needed change• Ming Dynasty improved the testing's and

requirements for such government jobs

Economy• Increase in agricultural society: What

was the effect? Think about it• Created stability• More food • Population went up• Fewer people were needed to work in

the fields because of a surplus of food• Increase of trade

• More time to produce items• People became artisans and made silk

cloth, textiles, and porcelain

Culture of China

Great Wall of China• Built at different stages throughout

China’s history• Ming rebuilt the wall to restore China’s

culture • They also built the Forbidden City as a

remembrance of the emperor’s power

Woodblock Printing• Remember: it was first invented in the

Han Dynasty• During the Ming Dynasty, the

woodblock printing helped increased the literacy rate

Porcelain• Fragile ceramic • Ming Dynasty is known for creating

beautiful white and blue patterned porcelain

Architecture• Techniques in architecture to spread

and influence societies in east and southeast Asia

Religion• Confucianism- official

religion of China during the Ming Dynasty and focused its beliefs around honesty

• Personal and governmental morality

• Goal: to spread peace and prosperity

Exploration• Goal for Ming: desire to spread Chinese culture

• Foreign trade was a way to spread Chinese culture

• Zheng He• 7 expeditions (1405-1433)• Sailed through the Indian Ocean and reached

eastern coast of Africa• Voyages were expensive and ended when

government decided to invest in domestic projects

Isolationism • Ming wanted to avoid contact with

other nations (1400s) • To separate China from foreign

influence, they dismantled the Chinese fleet, banned foreign trade and refused to admit foreigners into China

• Benefit: revival of the pure practice of Chinese culture

Qing Dynasty• Ming dynasty collapses when the Manchus conquer

them• Why?

• The government was weakened by a growing population

• Ming had many weak emperors

• Ming was the last dynasty to be ruled by ethnic Hans• Qing was ruled by Manchus (1644-1911)• Adopted many Chinese customs and traditions to

gain approval

Updates:• We will watch Mulan next class• Be prepared with homework• Check the website!• TEST next week! •