2. The Ming: Restoring Chinese Rule 1368-1644

3. Yuan Decline  After the death of Kublai Khan Yuan Dynasty Declined  Most Chinese despised the foreign Mongols  Confucian scholars retreated into their own world  Heavy taxes, corruption, natural disasters led to frequent uprisings  1368 Mongols were pushed back beyond the Great Wall

4. Ming Dynasty  Ming=Brilliant  Early Ming rulers sought to reassert Chinese greatness  Resorted civil service  Confucian learning became the road to success

6. Economic Revival  Fertile well irrigated plains of eastern China supported a population of 100 million  Chinese cities were home to many industries  Porcelain  Paper  Tools

7. Cultural Flowering  Revival of arts and literature  Landscape painting  Blue and white porcelain  Among the most valuable products in the West  Confucian scholars continued to produce classical poetry  Writers began composing popular novels

8. China and the World  Ming rulers proudly sent Chinese fleets into distant waters  Zheng He  Departed China in 1405 with a crew of 25,000  Goal to promote trade and collect tribute from lesser powers across the western seas  Explored Southeast Asia, India, Red Sea, Persian Gulf  Brought many creatures back

10. Turning Inward  1433 the building of sea going ships was banned  Confucian scholars had little interest in overseas ventures  Chinese civilization was the most successful  Wanted to preserve its ancient traditions