Ming Dynasty-Kevin Tang
Examine the foundations (economy) of the Ming dynasty?
During the Ming dynasty, China had the largest economy in the world. After devastations from the yuan dynasty, the Ming dynasty rebuilt over sea trade, began silver mining, and strengthened agriculture by producing cash crops and utilizing new invented tools and methods. They also taxed merchants heavily due to belief that they do not produce anything. They revived heavy industries such as coal and iron which increased economic growth.
What were the greatest accomplishments of the Ming?
Their greatest accomplishment was establishing political stability. In the 13th and 14th centuries, China were under control of Mongol warriors. The mongol overlords ignored the chinese political and cultural traditions and displaced many chinese officials. When the Yuan dynasty came to an end, the Ming emperors successfully established the cultural and political systems and restored traditional ways of China.
They also built the Great Wall of China and repaired most of the broken barriers. Chinese traditions were restored and most importantly, Ming dynasty reinstalled the system of civil service examinations that mongol rulers had neglected.
What led to their decline?
Their decline was caused by a series of problems that were detrimental to the Ming Dynasty. From 1520 to 1560, pirates and smugglers operated along the east coast of China and with the poor navy and coastal defenses, the coastal communities were disrupted very often.
Furthermore, the poor involvement of the emperors also lead to increase corruptions with the eunuchs who abused their power and hoarded wealth for themselves at the expense of chinese citizens.
Eventually, a series of famines hit china in the early 17th century making peasants ate grass root and tree bark. This enraged peasants and during the 1630s they organized revolts against China. They started small by conquering city by city but this gained momentum as more and more cities withdrew loyalty from the Ming dynasty. The Manchu forces from the north invaded and allied with the rebels to destroy the ming dynasty. By the 1640s the combined forces marched towards the capital at Beijing where the emperor and the royal family lived. Eventually they climbed the walls of the forbidden city and looted the imperial quarter, while the emperor and his family committed suicide which led to the end of the ming dynasty
How did religion affect their society?
Religion served as a unifier, and kept China together. As the Ming dynasty restored lots of cultural practices, the people of China became more satisfied.
During the Ming dynasty, China had the largest economy in the world. After devastations from the yuan dynasty, the Ming dynasty rebuilt over sea trade, began silver mining, and strengthened agriculture by producing cash crops and utilizing new invented tools and methods. They also taxed merchants heavily due to belief that they do not produce anything. They revived heavy industries such as coal and iron which increased economic growth.
What were the greatest accomplishments of the Ming?
Their greatest accomplishment was establishing political stability. In the 13th and 14th centuries, China were under control of Mongol warriors. The mongol overlords ignored the chinese political and cultural traditions and displaced many chinese officials. When the Yuan dynasty came to an end, the Ming emperors successfully established the cultural and political systems and restored traditional ways of China.
They also built the Great Wall of China and repaired most of the broken barriers. Chinese traditions were restored and most importantly, Ming dynasty reinstalled the system of civil service examinations that mongol rulers had neglected.
What led to their decline?
Their decline was caused by a series of problems that were detrimental to the Ming Dynasty. From 1520 to 1560, pirates and smugglers operated along the east coast of China and with the poor navy and coastal defenses, the coastal communities were disrupted very often.
Furthermore, the poor involvement of the emperors also lead to increase corruptions with the eunuchs who abused their power and hoarded wealth for themselves at the expense of chinese citizens.
Eventually, a series of famines hit china in the early 17th century making peasants ate grass root and tree bark. This enraged peasants and during the 1630s they organized revolts against China. They started small by conquering city by city but this gained momentum as more and more cities withdrew loyalty from the Ming dynasty. The Manchu forces from the north invaded and allied with the rebels to destroy the ming dynasty. By the 1640s the combined forces marched towards the capital at Beijing where the emperor and the royal family lived. Eventually they climbed the walls of the forbidden city and looted the imperial quarter, while the emperor and his family committed suicide which led to the end of the ming dynasty
How did religion affect their society?
Religion served as a unifier, and kept China together. As the Ming dynasty restored lots of cultural practices, the people of China became more satisfied.