Unit 6 Ming & Qing Dynasties

​Unit 6 Ming Dynasty

By Rhonda Tharp

Why is the Ming Dynasty Important?

Identify causes/effects of rise and influence of Ming Dynasty on world trade.

Be able to describe the Ming Dynasty and their achievements.​

1368 - 1644​

"Ming" means brilliant

It was established by Hongwu when he led revolts against the Yuan Empire (the Mongols) & won.

The last Han Dynasty to rule China.

​Hongwu - the Ming Emperor

Since he grew up poor, Hongwu knew firsthand that the poor were often used as slaves and would starve.

He passed a law that said any (poor) person who was able to grow crops on land that had had none before, would keep it as their property without being taxed.

Multiple Choice

Which dynasty did Hongwu end by organizing revolts against them?

• Tang

• Song

• Yuan

• Qin

Multiple Choice

During the Yuan Dynasty in China (1271-1368), who was in power?

• Koreans

• Japanese

• Nepalise

• Mongols

Multiple Choice

Once in power, how did Hongwu help the poor?

• He gave them a yearly income in rice and silver.

• He connected merchants in China to Europeans for sea trade.

• He closed the Silk Road.

• He passed a law giving them land for crops, free of tax.

Under Hongwu's Reign

He built a massive army and a strong navy.

Korea & Thailand paid taxes to China in exchange for their ships to protect their coasts.

Hongwu passed an embargo against foreign traders (ships). This was to prevent pirates.

He wanted control all to himself, so he had 100,000+ army officers and government workers executed.

He filled some of the bureaucratic spots with men who passed the Neo-Confucian Imperial exams.

Multiple Choice

When Chinese leaders use the Confucian Imperial Exams to select government workers, what is this known as?

• Merit System

• Biased System

• Equity System

• Lao Tzu System

During the Ming Dynasty, one explorer from China made several important voyages.

Zheng He made 7 voyages between 1405 - 1433.

According to this map of his 4th voyage, did his main fleet make it to Africa? How do you know?

​Zheng He's voyages extended to East Africa, with the fifth expedition (1417–1419) reaching Kenya, and the sixth (1421–1422) reaching Zanzibar. The final, seventh voyage (1431–1433) included visits to the Swahili coast kingdoms of Malindi and Pate. 

• Purpose: The expeditions were not for conquest but were diplomatic and trade missions to showcase the power of the Ming Dynasty and establish tributary relationships. 

• Souvenirs: His fleet brought back exotic animals from Africa, such as giraffes, lions, and zebras, which were highly prized by the Chinese emperor. 

• Documentation: The voyages produced detailed maps and accounts, such as the Mao Kun map, that charted the coastal regions of East Africa with advanced methods for the time. 

Multiple Select

How did Hongwu strengthen the Ming Dynasty? Mark 3 answers

• Building up the military

• Strengthening trade

• Using the merit system (getting the best of the best to work in govt)

• Executing 100,000+ army officers

Open Ended

Why do you suppose Hongwu executed army officers and government workers that were in position from the Yuan Dynasty?

Multiple Choice

Which Chinese explorer made 7 voyages between 1405 - 1433, not to conquer anyone, but to establish allies and diplomacy with others?

• Wu Zetian

• Kublai Khan

• Zheng He

• Qin Shi Huangdi

Multiple Select

What ideas or items did Zheng He share & bring back from his travels?

• Lions, giraffes, zebras

• Detailed maps

• To put on display the power of the Ming Dynasty

• To build diplomacy and allies

Chinese Society During the Ming

Women were not allowed to have conversations with men. They had little chance, as they were confined to their home and the courtyard.

They were kept in a separate part of the home with any children that had been born.

If a woman conceived too many girls, she left them somewhere to die, since boys were seen as more important - to educate, earn money and help parents in their old age.

Life of Ming Women

​Women practiced Foot Binding

Achievements of the Ming

​Developed an Intricate Postal System

​Strengthened & Repaired the Great Wall

​Improved Porcelain Quality

​Neo-Confucian Philosophy was reintroduced – education, ethics and virtues emphasized

​The Forbidden City in Beijing

Built during the Ming Dynasty

​Forbidden City is the largest palace in the world.

It covers .28 miles (180 acres).

Temple of Heaven in Beijing

Built during the Ming Dynasty

Multiple Select

What were some achievements of the Ming Dynasty? Mark all that apply.

• Perfected porcelain

• Strengthened the Great Wall and Grand Canal

• Developed efficient postal system

• Used Buddhism to train their military

Multiple Choice

Which structure was built for the Emperor and his bureaucracy?

• Grand Canal

• Great Wall

• Taj Mahal

• Forbidden City

Multiple Choice

Why were women's feet bound in the Ming Dynasty?

• for aesthetics

• to prevent them from running away

• to continue wearing children's shoes into adulthood

Fall of the Ming Dynasty 1644

Value of coins like copper decreased

Silver crisis was caused by a halt in imports from the Americas

Economic

Military was stretched too thin

Government was inefficient & had weak leadership

Famine, high taxes led to peasant revolts

Manchus took over the government, ruled until 1911

Political

Multiple Select

What caused the fall of the Ming Dynasty? Mark all that apply.

• Trade with Portugal

• Manchus attacked and took over

• Famine, inflation, value of money decreased

• Peasant revolts, weak leadership

Portugal, Spain, Netherlands & England

But China did not need anything from Europe.
Qing will shut trade down.

​Europeans Wanted to Build a Trade Relationship with China.

​Warning! Warning! Warning!

Multiple Choice

Which dynasty was run by the Han?

• Ming

• Qing

Multiple Choice

Which dynasty closed China off from trade because they didn't need anything from Europeans?

• Ming

• Qing

Multiple Choice

Which dynasty was ruled by the Manchus?

• Ming

• Qing

Categorize

Options (9)

open to trade

strengthened Great Wall

used merit system

re-established Neo-Confucian ideals

ruled by Manchus

ended in 1911

Closed Door Policy

used Jade for art like sculpture and decor

perfected porcelain process

Organize these options into the right categories

Ming Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

Reorder

Reorder the following Chinese Dynasties

• Tang

• Song

• Yuan

• Ming

• Qing

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Open Ended

In 2-3 sentences, describe the Ming Dynasty. (hint: Hongwu, Zheng He, achievements, open trade, foot binding, merit system, their fall)