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 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 Ming Dynasty within Asia Sources of Strength Confucianism: Ideology Educational system Family-state connection and patriarchy Neo-Confucianism Timeline of Chinese Philosophy through the Song Dynasty Hongwu Emperor (r. 1368-1398) 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 Yongle Emperor (r. 1403-1425) Importance of taxes Population growth Increased agricultural yield and products Government Finances and the Economy 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 Painting that depicts the Chinese examination system 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 Social Pyramid in Imperial China 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 Ming porcelain vase Lacquer box from Ming era Urban Life in Ming China Increased population Diverse urban society Dynamic urban culture Urban economy: Small businesses Factories Trade in Ming China Problems in Ming China Lack of technology Corruption Poor harvests Inflation – influx of silver Spanish Silver Coins Used in China Span ...