1. The Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644

2. The Ming dynasty began in 1368, and lasted until 1644 A.D. Its founder was a peasant, the third of only three peasants ever to become an emperor in China.

3. He is known as Hongwu Emperor He led the revolt against the Mongols and the Yuan Dynasty

4. The capital was originally located in Nanjing The third emperor moved the capital to Beijing.

5. As a result of his peasant origins, Hongwu created laws that improved the peasant life.

6. He kept the land tax for the peasants low. Kept the granaries stocked to guard against famine. He also maintained the dikes on the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.

7. However, economically he lacked the vision to push trade. He saw trade as shameful and parasitic.

8. He held the typically Confucian viewpoint. He felt agriculture should be the country's source of wealth.

9. He retained the Confucian view that being a merchant is an inferior occupation

10. However, Hongwu did not believe that the military too was inferior. He helped develop a militant class.

11. The Ming Dynasty witnessed a great cultural development including the novel Some of the best known novels of the Ming Dynasty are still read today.

12. Wood-cut and block- printing of art also became more popular at this time. New porcelain experimentation and production techniques were developed.

13. New encyclopedias and dictionaries were also written. Including one that reduced the number of signs for Chinese characters from 540 to 214.

14. Another great accomplishment of the Ming was the building of the Great Wall. Most of what is seen today was either built or repaired by the Ming.

15. The brick and granite work was enlarged. The watch towers were redesigned. Cannons were placed along the wall.

16. Hongwu was forced to rely on eunuchs for more administration purposes. Poor families often gained power when one of the males voluntarily became a eunuch.

17. Admiral Zheng He was such a eunuch. The Emperor ordered him to oversee the construction of a Fleet to explore the seas surrounding China. He was the first eunuch appointed to such a high military position in China.

18. Starting in 1405 A.D., he began a series of seven expeditions that went around India and as far as the east coast of Africa.

19. He traveled to the West seven times. For 28 years. He traveled more than 31,000 miles. He visited over 30 countries, including Singapore.

20. The first Treasure Fleet consisted of 62 ships. Four were huge wood boats, some of the largest ever built in history.

21. They were approximately 400 feet long and 160 feet wide. In the fall of 1405 the fleet was ready to embark with 27,800 men.

22. Merchants and trade in general were still looked down upon. But Cheng He had established sea routes that were used for trade with Japan and south Asia.

23. By 1433 A.D. China was far ahead of the rest of the world in naval capabilities. The fleet utilized the compass, invented in China, for navigation.