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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

7. THE MONGOL EMPIRE

8. The Yuan Dynasty,
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

9. 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

10. The Grand Canal

11. 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?”

12. The Ming Dynasty,
After Kublai Khan dies Chinese rebel and overthrow Mongol rule
The Ming Dynasty begins

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

14. 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

15. The Forbidden City

16. The Ming Dynasty,
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

17. Zheng He’s Ship and Columbus’ Santa Maria

18. 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!)

20. The Ming Dynasty,
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.

21. 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)

22. 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.”