Ming and Manchu Dynasties

Ming and Manchu Dynasties World History - Libertyville High School

Founding of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) • Ethnic Han Chinese overthrew Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty in 1368 • First Emperor = Hongwu (r. 1368-1398) focused on centralizing power to himself & recovery from Mongol rule • Rebuilt irrigation systems • Developed courier system throughout empire • Est. secret police to spy, suppress dissent • Courier routes became major trade, agricultural corridors that spurred internal economy

Early Ming Dynasty • Hongwu also ordered maintenance and expansion of Great Wall • Stone facing, towers added • Wall lengthened • Standing army of over one million soldiers established

Ming Government • Capital moved to Beijing in 1403 under Emperor Yongle, the grandson of Hongwu • Built the “Forbidden City” (residence of emperor and family) • Ordered construction and exploration of Treasure Fleets

Treasure Fleet Voyages • Massive fleets commissioned to embark on exploration, trade, diplomatic missions • Ships were massive • Fleets had up to 37,000 sailors, soldiers, diplomats • Zhenghe (1371-1433), trusted advisor to Emperor, put in charge • Made a total of seven voyages, as far away as East African coastline • Re-established trade contacts • Also demanded tribute from states visited

Decline and Fall of Ming • Emperor Wanli (1572-1620) • Began as capable emperor • Became tired of politics, war after major conflict from 1595-1603 vs. Korea, Japan (China won) • Withdrew to Forbidden City • Relied on eunuchs to run government • Civil service lost power relative to imperial eunuchs • Eunuchs effectively became rulers of China • Corruption, abuses increased

“Closing” of Ming China to Outsiders • Ming became pre-occupied with land threats from North, West and Korea and Japanese to Northeast • Saw selves as superior to rest of world • Edicts of emperors limited foreigners and their imports to one Chinese city, Canton • Continued export trade, but that trade dwindled in 1700s

Fall of Ming • Economic disaster • Ming had converted to silver as coinage, replacing paper money • Ming got lots of silver through international trade • Sources included Japan, South America, Africa, India • Disruption of international silver supplies in 1630s caused inflation, debasement of currency • Famine & drought occurred (loss of MOH) • Invasion by Manchu (northern nomads) overthrew Ming in 1644

Manchu (Qing) Dynasty (1644-1912) • Last dynasty of Chinese history • At height, Qing dynasty covered 5 million square miles with over 200 million citizens • Manchu – Jurchen nomads – seized control of China and completed conquest by 1683 • Continued most policies of traditional Chinese government • Civil service bureaucracy • Maintenance of Great Wall

Qing Dynasty • Pre-occupied with controlling huge empire • Biggest challenges • Exploding population put strain on food supply • Economic stagnation • Internal unrest (religious, social causes) • Dealing with natural disasters (1887 Yellow River flood = 900k-2 million dead) • All of these factors, together, kept Qing emperors focused inward during 17-1800s

“Foreign Devils” and Qing • 19th century saw Qing engage with rest of the world • Europeans were militarily and technologically superior • Europeans forced their way into Chinese markets • After 1867, Japanese advanced technologically past the Chinese

Ming and Manchu Dynasties