2. Section 4 Vocabulary
Zhu Yuanzhang – became emperor of the Ming dynasty after the Mongols were driven out of China
Nanjing– capital during the Ming dynasty
treason – disloyalty to the govt
Yong Le – second emporer of Ming dynasty
census – count of number of people
Genghis Khan – “strong ruler”
novel – long fictional story
Zheng He – Chinese Muslim and court official and famous Chinese explorer
Portugal – European country who sent explorers to China making first contact
barbarians – uncivilized people

3. Section 4 Notes The Rise of the Ming
After Kublai Khan died weak rulers began to loose control of the Yuan dynasty. Mongols from the north started to break away and The Chinese wanted to take back control of their country.
The Ming dynasty began after Zhu Yuanzhang and his followers drove out the Mongols and became emperor. He moved the capital to Nanjing.
He brought order to the country but killed anyone who the thought was disloyal (treason). He ruled for 30 years then died and his son Yong Le took over.

4. Section 4 Notes
Yong Le moved the capital to Beijing. He built large palaces and govt buildings.
He also built the Forbidden City where the emperor lived and only top officials could enter. The Forbidden City still exists today.
During the Ming dynasty plays (dramas) became popular because it was a time of properity.

5. Section 4 Notes
MING REFORMS:
Restored civil service exam so officials could carry out orders
Compiled a census (counted the people) to collect taxes more accurately
Rebuilt canals and farms destroyed by Mongols, planted new forests, paved new roads
Repaired and expanded Grand Canal so more easy to trade between north and south China
Imported new rice that grew faster

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9. Section 4 Notes Chinese Explorers
Ming emperors were curious about the world outside of China and wanted to increase China’s influence around the world so they built ships for exploration and trade.
Zheng He
Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim explorer who went on 7 sea voyages in order to:
Trade
Show off China’s power
Demand tribute (taxes) from weaker kingdoms
NOTE: He has a fleet of 62 large ships, 250 smaller ships, and 28,000 men. His largest ship was more than 5xs longer than Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria

10. Section 4 Notes
Zheng He
Zheng He traveled to SE Asia, India, Arabian Peninsula and E Africa
EXPORTS: silk, paper, and porcelain.
IMPORTS: silver, spices, wood and exotic animals (giraffe)
Some Chinese merchants settled in SE Asia and India in order to trade and spread the Chinese culture.
Some Chinese officials did not like Zheng He’s traveling because:
1. Cost too much
2. New ideas were coming to China
3. Merchants were becoming too rich
When Zheng He died the voyages were stopped and the ships were dismantled (torn apart)

12. Section 4 Notes Europeans in China
Europeans from Portugal arrived in China in This was Europe’s first contact since Marco Polo in the early 1300s.
The Portuguese went to China to trade and as missionaries to convince the Chinese to become Christian. First the Chinese thought the Portuguese were barbarians and would not trade with them but after many years they began to trade.
Many of the missionaries were Jesuits priests who were highly educated. This impressed the Chinese but the priests were not able to convert many Chinese to Christianity.

14. Section 4 Notes
Decline of the Ming dynasty
Ming emperors had too much power and gave officials little power. Then China had weak emperors and greedy officials who taxed the people too much. People started to revolt (fight back)
Manchus people from Manchuria captured Beijing and set up a new dynasty and the Ming dynasty fell.