The Ming Dynasty WHAP/Napp

Do Now: “The Ming dynasty in China had largely closed China to foreign trade in favor of developing the internal economy and of defending the northern borders against Mongol and Manchu attack. They repaired the Great Wall and extended it by an additional 600 miles. Having limited the size and power of their navy, the Ming were harassed by Japanese and Chinese pirates on their coasts. The Ming responded meekly by avoiding the sea and reviving the system of inland transportation by canals.

The Western presence was limited at this stage. The few Portuguese who arrived in China after 1514 were mostly Jesuit missionaries whose influence was felt far more in the culture of the court than in the commerce of the marketplace. Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), one of the most prominent of the Jesuit missionaries to China, shared with government officials in Beijing his knowledge of mathematics, cartography, astronomy, mechanics, and clocks, while he mastered the Chinese language and many of the Confucian classics. The Jesuits concentrated their efforts on winning the elites of China, and by 1700 some 300,000 Chinese had converted to Christianity.

Despite the shutdown of most international trade, China’s economy expanded, at least until about 1600. China, after all, contained one-fifth of the world’s population and generated an immense internal economy. The canal system encouraged north-south trade. Using kaolin clay, Chinese artisans created porcelain more beautiful and stronger than ever. Weaving and dyeing of silk expanded near Suzhou; cotton textiles flourished at Nanjing; Hebei specialized in iron manufacture.

In the late Ming period, private sea-going trade with Southeast Asia began to flourish again, often carried by families who had sent emigrants to the region and thus had local contacts. Within China, however, local authorities on the south China coast regulated and limited this trade. When Europeans came to trade, the Chinese government restricted them to coastal enclaves. First, the Ming dynasty limited the Portuguese to Macao in 1557 (where they remained until 1999 under agreement with the current Chinese government). Nevertheless, between one-third and one-half of all the silver of the New World ultimately went to China to pay for purchases of silk, porcelain, tea, and other products. Despite this new wealth, by the time the Dutch and British arrived in the 1600s the quality of the Ming administration had weakened.

The Qing dynasty, Manchus from north of the Great Wall, captured the government of China in 1644 and secured the southeast coast in 1683.” ~ The World’s History 1- What were the goals and policies of Ming dynasty officials? ______2- How did the Jesuit presence in China differ from its presence in the Americas? ______3- Describe China’s economy during the Ming dynasty. ______4- How did the Ming restrict trade? ______I. Origins A. 1368, rebellion led by a warlord, Zhu Yuanzhang, brought an end to Yuan Dynasty B. Established Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty C. His son, Yongle (1403-1424) or “perpetual happiness” took throne afterwards D. Both effective at rebuilding China and repairing damage done by war II. Zheng He A. From 1405-1433, Chinese admiral made seven voyages to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and India, then Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and East African coast B. Forced fifty nations and city-states to pay tribute and established trade C. After Yongle, rulers lost interest in outside world; expeditions stopped III. Art and Culture A. A time of artistic grandeur and intellectual dynamism B. Confucianism was restored to its place of prominence, rejoining Buddhism C. Exquisite glassware, pottery, ceramics, and especially, porcelain 1. No accident that the word china is synonymous with fine dishware D. Another major art form was scroll paintings, depicting landscapes, etc. E. Beijing was transformed into a magnificent capital for imperial family F. Yongle began construction of what is still called the Forbidden City 1. Marshalled a million workers to his vision for a palace 2. 180 acres and with 9000 rooms 3. What went on behind its red walls forbidden to all but court of Emperor IV. A Change in the Global Balance of Power A. China was beginning to slip in terms of international balance of power B. Losing scientific/technological advantages it possessed between 1000 – 1450 V. The Europeans A. During Ming period, first European explorers began to arrive in China B. China was too large/powerful for Portuguese or Spanish to conquer, but trade – yes C. Accompanying European traders were frequently Catholic missionaries D. Most famous was Matteo Ricci, there in 1590s and early 1600s 1. Italian Jesuit missionary, introduced Christian teaching to China 2. For nearly 30 years, a pioneer in mutual comprehension between China and West 3. Adopted the language and culture, gained entrance to interior of China, which was normally closed to foreigners 4. Ricci produced remarkable map of world, “Great Map of Ten Thousand Countries,” showed the Chinese intelligentsia China’s relation to world 5. Eventually, the emperor allowed Ricci to move to Beijing VI. Decline and Collapse A. By 1600s, Ming dynasty in decline: late rulers were weak B. Portuguese and Spanish traded with silver from Americas, and sudden, influx of it triggered inflation (rising prices), then economic breakdown C. Ming had implemented Single Whip Tax (all taxes paid in silver) D. At same time, agricultural yields shrank E. Cost of defending China’s long borders drained economy F. Massive peasant revolt, from 1636 to 1644, toppled Ming dynasty G. Then enemies from north, Manchus, swept in, took Beijing, established new dynasty, Qing dynasty, last dynasty of China 1- What dynasty did the founder of the Ming Dynasty topple? ______2- Identify the dates of the Ming Dynasty. ______3- What were the founder of the Ming Dynasty and his son Yongle effective at? ______4- Who was Zheng He and why was he significant? ______5- Identify the dates of Zheng He’s voyages. ______6- Why did the voyages of Zheng He abruptly end? ______7- What belief system was restored to prominence under the Ming? ______8- Why is the word “china” synonymous with fine dishware? ______9- What were significant accomplishments of the Ming Dynasty? ______10- Identify two significant facts about the Forbidden City. ______11- What was China beginning to lose during the Ming Dynasty? ______12- Who first arrived in China during the Ming Dynasty? ______13- Why did these individuals begin to arrive in China during the Ming Dynasty? ______14- Who was Matteo Ricci and why was he significant? ______15- How did Matteo Ricci differ from other missionaries? ______16- Why was Matteo Ricci an effective missionary? ______17- What was the “Great Map of Ten Thousand Countries”? ______18- Why was the “Great Map of Ten Thousand Countries” important? ______19- Why did the Ming Dynasty begin to weaken? ______20- Why did Europeans bring silver to China? ______21- Where did Europeans acquire the silver? ______22- What was the Single Whip Tax? ______23- Who were the Manchus and what did they establish? ______1. Which description best 4. Which best explains the Ming characterizes the period of Ming decision to bring a brief period of rule in China? extensive overseas exploration (A)Turn to isolationism, guided by Admiral Zheng He in the consolidation of Confucian early fifteenth century to a halt? values, economic and (A) Grievous naval defeats at the demographic expansion hands of Portuguese maritime (B) Turn from isolationism, power deterioration of Confucian (B) Attitudes toward the values, economic and expeditions within the imperial demographic contraction bureaucracy that ranged from (C)Turn from isolationism, indifference to hostility consolidation of Confucian (C)A rare suspension of monsoon values, economic and winds that made long-distance demographic expansion voyages impossible (D)Turn to isolationism, (D)Muslim dominance of the deterioration of Confucian Indian Ocean basin, which led values, economic and to hostility at ports of call from demographic contraction East Africa to Western India (E) Turn to isolationism, (E) Growing preference of Chinese deterioration of Confucian merchants and elites for goods values, economic and produced in foreign lands, demographic expansion undermining customary notions of superiority and centrality of 2. Aside from the Yuan dynasty, China in world affairs which other Chinese dynasty was founded by nomadic invaders? 5. Which of the following adversely (A)Qing (Manchu) affected Ming economics during the (B) Qin first half of the 1600s? (C)Han (A)Inflation caused by the glut of (D)Song silver coming from Spanish and (E) Ming Portuguese colonies (B) The financial strain caused by 3. Who was Matteo Ricci? the need to defend China’s long (A)A Portuguese warlord who frontiers conquered Macao (C)The decline of agricultural (B) A Jesuit missionary who yields and disturbances in the traveled widely in China countryside (C)A Spanish colonial (D)All of the above administrator in Asia (D)The Founder of the Ming Dynasty Thesis Practice: Change over Time Analyze cultural, political, and economic continuities and changes in China from the Han Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty. ______