The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) established itself as a global power under Zhu Yuanzhang (Hong Wu), focusing on centralized government, economic growth, and significant advancements in shipbuilding and navigation. Its maritime explorations led by Zheng He from 1405 to 1433 enhanced trade networks throughout Asia and Africa, overcoming obstacles like the blocked Silk Route. The dynasty became known for its wealth and technological prowess, with Chinese ships becoming the most advanced in the world by the 16th century.

1. A WORLD POWER IN
THE 14TH AND 15TH
CENTURY
THE MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

2. SUB-TOPICS
• In this lesson we will cover:
• The Ming dynasty: government and society
• Travel and trade: Shipbuilding;
Navigation (compass)
Trade and influence along the Asian sea routes,
Treasure fleet expeditions of Zheng He from 1405 to 1433.

3. THE MING DYNASTY
1368- 1433
• Zhu Yuanzhang who took the
name Hong Wu when he
defeated the Mogul emperor
of China and announced a new
dynasty in 1368 called the
Ming dynasty. He then made
changed to the government
and society of the country
leading up to many changed
for China to grow its economy.
https://commons.wikime
dia.org/wiki/File:Hongwu
1.jpg

4. GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
• During Hong Wu's reign China became the most powerful, wealthiest and most
technologically advanced empire in the world.
• Emperor made himself directly the ruler rather than use chiefs, ministers as Mongols had
(Fasteddie, 2009).
• He reorganised the government into centralised state:
• 70 00 eunuchs (which were castrated government officials)
• He introduced a code of laws
• Collected taxes efficiently
• He grouped the people into 3 hereditary classes; the soldiers, craftspeople and peasants.

5. TRAVEL AND
TRADE
• SHIPBUILDING

6. SHIPBUILDING
• By the 16th century Chinese ships were the most advanced in the world , they
had hulls with water watertight holds.
• They consist of 12 massive bamboo slat sails which were adjustable, this made it
possible to sail against the wind.
• Chinese ships were well equipped for navigation with accurate maps, magnetic
compass and rudder.

7. NAVIGATION
• The Chinese invented the
magnetic compass.
• They had long tradition of map-
making
https://vitalityfusion.com/blog/a
n-ancient-history-of-magnets
Click to add text

8. TRADE AND INFLUENCE ALONG THE ASIAN SEA
ROUTES
When the Ming dynasty came to power in 1368, the silk
route overland from Asia to Europe was blocked to
China.
This resulted in finding new trade routes in the Indian
Ocean.
By the 16th century, China was trading with East Asia,
Southeast Asia, southern India, Ceylon, the Persian
Gulf, Africa, etc
China traded silk, cotton and porcelain in return for
Spanish silver and American sugar, potatoes and
tobacco.
https://www.worldhistory.
org/Ming_Porcelain/

9. THE SEA JOURNEYS OF ZHENG HE
• Led by the court official Zheng He, China made seven voyages of exploration between
1405 and 1433 (CRCourse, 2010), to more than 30 countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle
East and the east coast of Africa.
• On his first voyage he set sail with 27 00 men on 317 ships, including treasure ships
carrying trade and tribute goods.
• The ships brought back treasurers for the emperor such as a giraffe, spices, wool,
precious stones and Arabian horses.
• Zheng He's ships were six times larger than the ships that Columbus used later in 1492
(which we will discuss in the next chapter).
• One Chinese historian described them as ships that are like houses, when their sails are
spread they are like great clouds in the sky (CCORE, 2010).

10. REFERENCES
- Fasteddie. (2009) AP Ming Dynasty PowerPoint. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/fasteddie/ap-ming-dynasty-
powerpoint?subscription_success_banner=show (Accessed 18 August 2022).
- CRCourseDev. (2010) Unit 6 lesson 2 Ming Dynasty PowerPoint. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/CRCourseDev/unit-6-lesson-2-ming-dynasty-power-point (Accessed
21 August 2022).
- CCone. (2010) Zheng He. Available from Slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/ccone/zheng-
he-4745414 (Accessed 21 August 2022).
- Ponzio, R. (2013) Ming. Available form Slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/ponzart/ming-
16177613
- Knight, G. (2008) The Ming and Qing Dynasties of China. Available from Slide
at https://www.slideshare.net/grillmeister/the-ming-and-qing-dynasties-of-china