Slides on Ming Dynasty

1. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

2. VIDEO

3. THE WORLD AROUND THE 1600
• What was the world like around in the 15th
centuries?
• Around the 15th century great empires
flourished in Ming China(Asia) and Songhai
(Africa)
• These two empires were wealthy, powerful and
advanced technologically.
• Around these time Europe was not a role player in
changing the world yet because of civil wars.

4. The Ming Dynasty
• The word "Dynasty'' means a ruling family
• In 1368 when a rebel peasant leader Zhu
Yuanzhang( Hong Wu) defeated the Mongol emperor
he announced a new Dynasty .
• He ruled for 30 years from (1368-1398)
• Under his reign, China became most powerful,
wealthiest and most technologically advanced empire
ever.
• He ruled through Absolutism
• Used educated scholars called Mandarins
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

5. Changes he
made when
he came
into power
(1368-1398)
He re-organized the government into a centralised state
He castrated 70 000 officials and appointed the me to run
the country.
An irrigation scheme was constructed to flood the fields of
Rice and he encouraged Agriculture.
He grouped the people into 3 hereditary classes: soldiers,
craftspeople and peasants
He restored/repaired the Grand Canal and great wall of
China to improve communications and defense.
The forbidden city was built in Beijing and became the home
of emperors.
Started to send some of his workers to embark on journey to
trade and explore.

7. Travel andTrade by Ming Dynasty
• Chinese ships were built and they were most
advanced in the world.
• Chinese traded magnetic compass, porcelain,
gunpowder, silk ,cotton and paper with Europe
and America.
• in return for Spanish sliver and Firearms and
American sugar, potatoes and tobacco
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

8. ITEMS
TRADED
BY CHINA

9. Zheng He's voyages
• Between 1405 and 1423 the thingnew
EmperorZhu Di sent his favorite servant
on a seriesof voyagesthat took China to
east of Coast of Africa.
• The Purposeof these voyages was to:
• Expandtrade contacts, establishrelations
with foreign power & bring back
preciousgoods for the emperor.

10. The end of Trade after China
decided to look inwards after 1433.
• Emperor Yong Le took power and decided to end these voyages.
• This decision was made after he was advised by Mandarins that
ships were expensive to build and to fund long expeditions.
• They thought that money could be spent to better internal
projects in China and they wanted to repair Great wall of China
since there was a threat of Mongol invasion.
• The emperor destroyed ships and maps.
• China was isolated from the world with the belief that outside
world is filled with barbarian.
• Corruption among mandarins contributed to the end of Ming
China.
• In 1644 Ming China was overthrown by Mongols.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

11. GAME PIN:464 724