1. China and the Ming Dynasty

3. The Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty began with the overthrowing of the Mongol dynasty by Emperor Ming Hong Wu
The capital was Beijing
Using the largest army and navy in the world (over 1 million troops), the Ming extended their rule, built up the Great Wall, and made peace with nomadic tribes.
Mongol Beijing over 1 million peace

4. Ming Dynasty at Home Effective, centralized government
Nationwide school system
Increased food production
Life was good!!
Government, school, food, good

5. The Forbidden City (15th c.)
After Emperor Ming’s death, his son became the new leader
In order to keep power, Ming’s son strengthened the dynasty and built The Imperial City (in Beijing).
The Imperial City was built to show the power and wealth of the Ming dynasty.
The Forbidden City is a complex of palaces within The Imperial City and was off-limits to commoners
Son, power, wealth, palaces, off-limits

7. The Great Wall
Construction of the Great Wall began in 5bc under the Qin Dynasty
Was built of wood and dirt
Not much of the original Great Wall remains.
Most of the wall we still see today was built by the Ming Dynasty
Pre-Ming Dynasty, most of the wall was built with compacted dirt
Ming builders preferred brick
5 bc, wood dirt Ming Dynasty, dirt, bricks

8. Fun Facts about the Great Wall
Average height is 25 feet
If we took all the bricks and spread them out, they would circle the world 5 times
Over 4100 miles long
2 to 3 million people died while building it
Built to protect China from invaders (mongols)
Can it be seen from space??
can and cannot be seen from space invaders

11. Built on border with Mongolia

13. The Voyages of Zheng He
Sent by the Emperor to explore the Indian Ocean
7 trips over 35 years
Largest ships the world had ever seen. His were 440 feet while Columbus’s were only 75 feet (over 5x larger!)
Brought back new goods and animals (GIRAFFES!!!  )
Made lots of money
After the Emperor died, the voyages were stopped, reverted to isolationism.
Indian Ocean, 7, 35, 440, 75, money

14. Contact with the West
In the 16th century, China was at the height of its power as a magnificent civilization
When Portuguese fleets arrived, the Chinese viewed these people as inferior barbarians
Eventually, the two groups traded goods (eyeglasses, silk, etc.) and Europeans were impressed with Chinese
Spices
Architecture
Printing (books)
Portuguese, inferior barbarians, spices, printing (books)

15. Fall of the Ming Dynasty
In the late 16th century, weak rulers led to corruption, high taxes, and unhappy citizens
Bad weather also led to less food
This gave the Manchu people an opportunity to take over and establish the Qing Dynasty in 1644
16th, corruption, weather, Manchu, Qing (Ching), 1644

16. China and the Qing Dynasty

17. Chinese Resistance to Qing
Some Chinese citizens rebelled against the new Qing rulers
In order to easily tell who was loyal and who was a rebel, the Qing required all males to shave their heads and braid their hair into a queue.
Those who refused were beheaded
Eventually, the Qing were accepted, made peace, and prospered
Beheaded.prospered

18. The Queue
Beheaded.prospered