1. What were some of the issues which led to the collapse of the Mongol Empire?

2. How did Confucian policies differ from those of Emperor Yongle?

3. For what purpose were the Zheng He voyages commissioned?

4. In what ways was the Ming Dynasty a revival of Chinese culture, like the Renaissance was a revival of European culture?

Inter-Mongol fighting TAX FARMING = Peasant Rebellions Plague (1340s)… Effects of the

Plague… Mongols out of China by 1368

Confucian Exam System Comes Back! Chinese goods = superior (porcelain, silk,

paper, etc.) Europeans traded silver for these

luxuries– more silver to China from Americas than any other society

Should China focus on internal defense or external displays of power?

Inward-Focused Policies:1) Banned overseas voyages 2) Didn’t focus on going OUT and trading (merchants viewed badly again)3) Protect from scary pastoralists to the North

Assumption = People will come to China b/c it is awesome. China does not need to go to others.

New Emperor Yongle in 1403 Establishes new Outward-Focused

Policies Trade increased Built up the Forbidden City Zheng He’s Voyages

Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide Fleet of 57 vessels 7 voyages- approx. 28,000 traveled Goals= (Aim to Awe, NOT Attack & NOT

Trade)

1) Show off Ming greatness2) Establish tribute states

Porcelain and Painting reach new levels of greatness

Emperor’s use of Confucian rituals & art to legitimize rule & establish power become more important

Mimicked style of previous CHINESE Dynasties (like Song)

Focus on Confucian harmony

Focus on NATURE, not humans (the opposite of Renaissance art!

Used to display power Use of Porcelain –

especially blue and white ware

The picture on the gate above shows a Confucian scholar on the left at a desk. It is basically a propaganda piece showing

how the elites bring harmony to society.

1. What were some of the issues which led to the collapse of the Mongol Empire?

2. How did Confucian policies differ from those of Emperor Yongle?

3. For what purpose were the Zheng He voyages commissioned?

4. How is European Renaissance art and art of the Ming Dynasty to be compared?