1. The Ming Dynasty
(1368 – 1644)

2. Fall of the Yuan Dynasty (Mongol Rulers in China)
The Yuan Dynasty was created by Kublai Khan.
After his death Yuan rulers became greedy and overtaxed peasants and began to spend lavishly on themselves.
A serious of catastrophic floods and famines also weakened the Dynasty and led to constant rebellions & Civil War.
A monk named Zhu Yuanzhang led a revolt and overthrew the Mongol rulers and Began the Ming Dynasty. (Ming means “Brilliant)
Floods have always been an issue in China killing millions. This 1938 flood killed 800,000 people and left 4 million homeless.

3. Hongwu 1st Emperor of the Ming
Zhu Yuanzhang changed his name to Hongwu.
He improved the great wall to keep out invaders (like the Mongols) and strengthened the military.
He outlawed everything Mongol (even names) and returned China to its traditional past of isolationism.
Isolationism means they did not want contact with people outside of China.
Ming Dynasty Video: The Story of Us

4. Dynastic Cycle(Review)

5. Ming Economic Improvements
The Ming Emperors immediately helped the economy by giving tax breaks to those willing to work and improve farming.
Improved farming decreased famine and led to increased wealth for landowners and farmers.
The Ming leaders were isolationist, but they allowed private merchants to do business. The merchant class grew rich from trading silks and porcelain, to other lands in Europe and Asia.
Taxes from these goods & merchants continued to help the economy improve.
Porcelain
Silk Cloth

6. The Voyages of Zheng He Zheng He Video
In 1405, Emperor Yongle sent Muslim Admiral Zheng He on a series of voyages around the world to show the might of China.
His fleet included 300 ships with more than 25,000 crew members.
These voyages opened up trade for China, but it was controversial because China was isolationist.
Zheng He Video
The new emperor had all the ships destroyed and kept China from further exploration.
Although the voyages were limited, they did bring much wealth to China.
Admiral Zheng He

7. Side by side comparison to one of Christopher Columbus’s ship to one of Zheng He’s ships called a junk.

8. Closing Task:
What were the Major Similarities and Differences between Christopher Columbus’s voyage and that of Zheng He?
- Can complete in paragraph form or by creating a chart.