The Ming Dynasty WHAP/Napp

“What might an imaginary global traveler notice about the world’s major civilizations in the fifteenth century? Such a traveler might well begin his or her journey in China, heir to a long tradition of effective governance, Confucian and Daoist philosophy, a major Buddhist presence, sophisticated artistic achievements, and a highly productive economy. That civilization, however, had been greatly disrupted by a century of Mongol rule, and its population had been sharply reduced by the plague. During the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644), however, China recovered. The early decades of that dynasty witnessed an effort to eliminate all signs of foreign rule, discouraging the use of Mongol names and dress, while promoting Confucian learning based on earlier models from the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties. Emperor Yongle (reigned 1402 – 1422) sponsored an enormous Encyclopedia of some 11,000 volumes…

Politically, the Ming dynasty reestablished the civil service examination system that had been neglected under Mongol rule and went on to create a highly centralized government. Power was concentrated in the hands of the emperor himself, while a cadre of eunuchs (castrated men) personally loyal to the emperor himself, exercised great authority, much to the dismay of the official bureaucrats. The state acted vigorously to repair the damage of the Mongol years by restoring millions of acres to cultivation; rebuilding canals, reservoirs, and irrigation works; and planting, according to some estimates, a billion trees in an effort to reforest China. As a result, the economy rebounded, both international and domestic trade flourished, and the population grew. During the fifteenth century, China had recovered and was perhaps the best-governed and most prosperous of the world’s major civilizations.

China also undertook the largest and most impressive maritime expeditions the world had ever seen. Since the eleventh century, Chinese sailors and traders had been a major presence in the South China Sea and in Southeast Asian port cities, with much of this activity in private hands. But now, after decades of preparation, an enormous fleet, commissioned by Emperor Yongle himself, was launched in 1405, followed over the next twenty-eight years by six more expeditions. On board more than 300 ships of the first voyage was a crew of some 27,000, including 180 physicians, hundreds of government officials, 5 astrologers, 7 high-ranking or grand eunuchs, carpenters, tailors, accountants, merchants, translators, cooks, and thousands of soldiers and sailors, Visiting many ports in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India, Arabia, and East Africa, these fleets, captained by the Muslim eunuch Zheng He, sought to enroll distant peoples and states in the Chinese tribute system.”

~ Ways of the World

1-Discuss several goals of the Ming Dynasty. ______

2-Identify significant facts about the Ming bureaucracy. ______

3-Describe the accomplishments of the Ming Dynasty.

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4-Discuss the accomplishments of Emperor Yongle and Zheng He. ______

Notes:
  1. Origins
  1. 1368, rebellion led by a warlord, Zhu Yuanzhang, brought an end to Yuan
  2. Zhu Yuanzhang established Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty
  3. His son, Yongle (1403-1424) or “perpetual happiness” took throne after
  4. Both effective at rebuilding China and repairing damage done by war
  1. The Ming Dynasty
  1. Retained and expanded tributary system that Khubilai Khan created
  2. Many states in East and Southeast Asia forced to pay tribute to Ming
  3. When Mongol warlord Timur attacked China in late 1300s, repelled
  1. Zheng He
  1. From 1405-1433, Chinese admiral made seven voyages to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and India, then Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and East African coast
  2. Forced fifty nations and city-states to pay tribute and established trade
  3. After Yongle, rulers lost interest in outside world; expeditions stopped
  1. Centralizing China
  1. At home, the Ming dynasty recentralized country
  1. Art and Culture
  1. A time of artistic grandeur and intellectual dynamism
  2. Confucianism was restored to its place of prominence, rejoining Buddhism
  3. Exquisite glassware, pottery, ceramics, and especially, porcelain
  4. No accident that the word china is synonymous with fine dishware
  5. Another major art form was scroll paintings, depicting landscapes, historical scenes, and human and animal figures on long, vertical scrolls of silk/paper
  6. Beijing was transformed into a magnificent capital for imperial family
  7. Yongle began construction of what is still called the Forbidden City
  8. Emperor Yongle marshalled a million workers to his vision for a palace
  9. 180 acres and with 9000 rooms
  10. What went on behind its red walls forbidden to all but court of Emperor
  1. A Change in the Global Balance of Power
  1. China was beginning to slip in terms of international balance of power
  2. Losing scientific/technological advantages it possessed between 1000 – 1450
  3. Foreigners from West would begin to change world history
V. The Europeans
A. During Ming period, first European explorers began to arrive in China
B. China was too large/powerful for Portuguese or Spanish to conquer, but trade
C. Accompanying European traders were frequently Catholic missionaries
D. Most famous were Francis Xavier, during 1540s and 1550s, and Matteo Ricci, there in 1590s and early 1600s
E. Matteo Ricci, Italian Jesuit missionary, introduced Christian teaching to China
1- For nearly 30 years/pioneer in mutual comprehension between China and West
2- Adopted the language and culture, gained entrance to interior of China, which was normally closed to foreigners
3- Ricci was a Jesuit, order of Catholic Church that was known for its missionary spirit and scientific research as well as voyages to Americas/Asia
4-Previously, missionaries had attempted to impose Western customs and use of Latin in religious rites
5-Now, great stress was put on the importance of learning the Chinese language
6-Ricci produced remarkable map of world, “Great Map of Ten Thousand Countries,” showed the Chinese intelligentsia China’s relation to world
4-Eventually, the emperor allowed Ricci to move to Beijing
VI. Decline and Collapse
  1. By 1600s, Ming dynasty in declineLate rulers were weak
  2. Portuguese and Spanish traded with silver from Americas, and sudden, influx of it triggered inflation (rising prices), then economic breakdown
  3. At same time, agricultural yields shrank
  4. Cost of defending China’s long borders drained economy
  5. Massive peasant revolt, from 1636 to 1644, toppled Ming dynasty
  6. Last Ming emperor committed suicide after first having tried to kill family
  7. But victory of peasant rebellion was short-lived
  8. Enemies from north, Manchus, swept in, took Beijing, established new dynasty, Qing dynasty, last dynasty of China

Complete the Graphic Organizer Below:

Questions:

  • Discuss the origin of the Ming Dynasty.
  • How did the first Ming emperors transform China?
  • Who was Zheng He and how significant was he in Chinese and world history?
  • Discuss continuities and changes during the Ming dynasty.
  • How did arrival of Europeans and changing balance of world power affect China?
  • What factors led to the decline of the Ming dynasty.

  1. Which description best characterizes the period of Ming rule in China?
(A)Turn to isolationism, consolidation of Confucian values, economic and demographic expansion
(B)Turn from isolationism, deterioration of Confucian values, economic and demographic contraction
(C)Turn from isolationism, consolidation of Confucian values, economic and demographic expansion
(D)Turn to isolationism, deterioration of Confucian values, economic and demographic contraction
(E)Turn to isolationism, deterioration of Confucian values, economic and demographic expansion
  1. Aside from the Yuan dynasty, which other Chinese dynasty was founded by nomadic invaders?
(A)Qing (Manchu)
(B)Qin
(C)Han
(D)Song
(E)Ming
  1. Who was Francis Xavier?
(A)A Portuguese warlord who conquered Macao
(B)A Jesuit missionary who traveled widely in China
(C)A Spanish colonial administrator in Asia /
  1. Which best explains the Ming decision to bring a brief period of extensive overseas exploration guided by Admiral Zheng He in the early fifteenth century to a halt?
(A) Grievous naval defeats at the hands of Portuguese maritime power
(B)Attitudes toward the expeditions within the imperial bureaucracy that ranged from indifference to hostility
(C)A rare suspension of monsoon winds that made long-distance voyages impossible
(D)Muslim dominance of the Indian Ocean basin, which led to hostility at ports of call from East Africa to Western India
(E)Growing preference of Chinese merchants and elites for goods produced in foreign lands, undermining customary notions of superiority and centrality of China in world affairs
  1. Which of the following adversely affected Ming economics during the first half of the 1600s?
(A)Inflation caused by the glut of silver coming from Spanish and Portuguese colonies
(B)The financial strain caused by the need to defend China’s long frontiers
(C)The decline of agricultural yields and disturbances in the countryside
(D)All of the above

Thesis Statement: Change Over Time: Dynastic China (From Han through Ming)

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