In 1368, the Mongol dynasty fell and

the Ming emperors gained power.

It is important to remember that theChinese believed in the Mandate of

Heaven or the right to rule. The godsselected the dynasty but could replacea corrupt dynasty with a new dynasty.

Ming emperors constructed a magnificent imperial palace in Beijing,

known as the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City was home to all later emperors.

The MingemperorsexpandedChineseterritory,

increased trade,and even

sponsorednaval

expeditions.

Zheng He was an important Chinesenavigator. He led many Chinesenaval expeditions to South Asia,Southwestern Asia, and Africa.

Eventually, the Chinese discontinuedthe expeditions due to ethnocentrism.The Chinese believed that they were

superior to other cultures.

The Chinese believed that theywere the “Middle Kingdom.”

They believed that they could learn nothing important from other

inferior cultures.

The Ming Emperorsdecided to

end the navalexpeditionsand isolate

China. Theykept foreigners

out of Chinaand Chinese in

China.

Though China was very advancedfor the time period, isolationism

caused China to fall behind.

In 1644, the Manchus, a people fromnortheast Asia, invaded and conquered

China.

The Manchu conquerors founded theQing of Ch’ing dynasty. Like the

Mongols,the Manchus adopted many Chinese

traditions like the civil service examination.

However, the Manchus did forceChinese men to wear their hair in pigtails as a symbol that they had submitted to Manchu rule. This is

the pigtail of the last emperor.

The Manchus improved roads and canals.However, European technology surpassed

China. China’s isolation from the Westand the imperial resistance to change,

led China to fall behind.

Ming Qing