YUAN AND MING DYNASTIES OF ANCIENT CHINA Global History and Geography – 9 Sachem North High School Dr. Afxendiou

Background Information China was ruled by dynasties (line of rulers from the same family)

Background Information For most of its history, China was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world (sometime it was THE most advanced civilization). WHY? made luxury goods – silk, spices invented new technologies – Gunpowder - Compass - paper - iron plows Printing blocks - ship rudders - horse harnesses

Background Information China traded with the rest of Asia and Europe through the SILK ROAD Not only goods traveled along the Silk Road ideas and technologies traveled as well The rest of the world got to know about the riches and advancements of China from contacts with merchants

Background Information The Chinese build the GREAT WALL in 600 BCE to keep out the northern invaders, which later on included THE MONGOLS.

THE MONGOLS In 1260, Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan, became ruler of the Mongol Empire Kublai Khan conquered all of China (it took him 20 years!) This is the ONLY time in Chinese history that the country is ruled by foreigners.

THE MONGOL EMPIRE

The Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 Kublai Khan creates a new Chinese Dynasty with himself as emperor He gives his new dynasty a Chinese name: YUAN DYNASTY The Chinese people did not want the foreign rulers and resented them Kublai Khan did not force the Chinese to change to the Mongol ways. Instead, the Mongols adapted the ways of the Chinese

The Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 Visited by Marco Polo First all-paper money system Heavy taxation by Mongols Money used to make improvements in the country Extended the GRAND CANAL that linked most of China’s rivers (a water highway system) Built new palaces Improved roads

The Grand Canal

How did the Ming feel about outsiders? Which dynasty did the Ming replace? How did the first Ming ruler bring stability to China? Why did the second emperor launch the voyages of exploration? Who led the voyages? What areas did the voyages of exploration reach? Why did the Ming stop the voyages of exploration? What is the definition of “isolation?”

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 After Kublai Khan dies Chinese rebel and overthrow Mongol rule The Ming Dynasty begins

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 Ming leaders stress returning to traditional Chinese values Confucianism (philosophy based on the teachings of Confucius about family, morality, social harmony and government)

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 Capital of the Dynasty is Beijing Forbidden City Palaces and gardens Emperor and his court lived there Entrance restricted - only top government officials could enter

The Forbidden City

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 Early emperors wanted to expand China’s power They built a large fleet of ships for sea travel Their ships were much more advanced and complex than European ships Leader of seafaring expeditions was Zheng He

Zheng He’s Ship and Columbus’ Santa Maria

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 Zheng He Sailed to the Middle East (Mecca) and the coast of East Africa Established trade relations with places he visited He made China more visible to the rest of the world. He made China’s advances known to other societies and created demand for its products Porcelain vases (Ming vases – valuable to this day!)

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 Later Ming officials were against further exploration Reasons Didn’t like new ideas coming back into China Believed that moneymaking by explorers and traders was against Confucian principles because merchants were working for themselves not the improvement of the society.

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 After Zheng He died: Emperor ordered ships to be destroyed China enforced a policy of isolationism (avoiding contact with other countries)

The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 The Decline: Mediocre emperors Corruption among officials Heavy taxes cause discontent and rebellions among the people Manchu rebellions Manchus consolidate into a political unit and claimed to have the Mandate of Heaven to form a new dynasty which they named Qing, meaning “pure.”