MING AND QING EMPIRES

MING: 1368 – 1644

QING: 1644 - 1904

Rise of the Ming• Ming Dynasty most

powerful in China

• People paid tribute (money & gifts) to acknowledge their submission, & expected Europeans to do it

Hongwu• 1st emperor of Ming–Restored agricultural lands;

increased rice production– Erased Mongol past–Promoted China’s power/prosperity–Held Confucian moral standards– Later paranoid; became tyrant and

conducted purges

Voyages of Zheng He• Chinese Muslim admiral• Started sailing 1405 before Europeans (7

voyages)• Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and Eastern

Africa• Helped expand China’s tribute system• After 7th voyage, China withdrew into

self-sufficient isolation

Ming Relations with Foreign Countries

• Only government allowed to trade through 3 ports

• Demand for Chinese goods skyrocketed (silk, ceramics, etc)

• But China did not become industrialized because:– Commerce offended Confucian beliefs– Economic policies favored agriculture taxes on

agric. low & manufacturing high

Forbidden City

• Palace in Beijing• All commoners

forbidden to enter without special permission

• Business affairs conducted & emperor, family, & his court lived there (9,000 rooms)

Great Wall of China

• FYI: The Great Wall of China was deteriorating in many areas, so the Ming rebuilt most of it, extending to 8,000 km, or roughly 4, 970 miles (27,190,000 feet)

http://www.travlang.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/great-wall-of-china_aa.jpg

A New Dynasty: The Qing• Ming Dynasty weak

corrupt rulers & bad harvests• Other side of Great Wall is

Manchuria, with people known as Manchus• Manchus invaded Ming & took over

for next 260 years

China Under the Qing• At 1st Chinese resisted

but Manchus slowly earned respect–kept local traditions, except hair in queue–Allowed Jesuit missionaries to inform

them of latest developments in science, math, & medicine in Europe

Manchus Continue Isolation• Chinese think they’re

cultural center of world for 2,000 years

• If foreigners want to trade, they have to follow their rules (specific ports & pay tribute)

• Europeans want silk, porcelain, and especially tea

Daily Life in Ming & Qing• Greater rice production led to higher

population• Only sons valued; many female infants

killed• Most women forced to stay at home to

raise children & manage finances• Foot binding

http://news.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/news/20100115110026.html