Do Now: What do you know about China to this point in time?

Aim: How Did the Ming Dynasty restore rule in

China?

Kublai Khan(Ghengiz Khan’s grandson)the new leader of the Mongol Empire did many things to keep the Empire going but was a harsh ruler. He did what was best and wouldn’t mind if people died due to it. He had rebuilt the Grand Canal

An Italian merchant named, Marco Polo was one of the many visitors to China during the Yuan Dynasty. During his stay, he spent 17 years in Kublai’s service.

Kublai Khan: Leader of the Mongols and Ghengiz Khan’s grandson. Led from 1260-1294.Marco Polo: Italian Merchant who visited the Yuan

Dynasty and spent 17 years in Kublai Khan’s service.

Background:

The Yuan Dynasty declined after the death of Kublai Khan.

Confucian Scholars retreated into their own world due to little gain from the Barbarians.

Heavy taxes, corruption, and natural disasters led to frequent uprisings.

Zhu Yuanzhang(peasant leader) forged a rebel army that toppled the Mongols and pushed them back beyond the Great Wall of China.

In 1368, The New Chinese Dynasty called Ming(beautiful) was created.

The Rise Of The Ming Dynasty:

Restored Civil Service System.Restored The Confucian Learning System.Board of Sensors watched over the

bureaucracy.Rooted out corruption and disloyalty.

The Ming Dynasty(1368-1644):

All the rulers in the Ming Dynasty contributed a lot but none of them impacted as much and weren’t very well known.

Hongwu Emperor(1368-1398): Was there 1st ruler. He rebuilt the state’s infrastructure. Made new government hall as well.

Yongle Emperor(1402-1424): Sparked a 3 year civil war and reign was not followed with many effects in the empire.

Wanli Emperor(1572-1620): Ruled while there was a slow decline in the Ming Dynasty.

Rulers of the Ming Dynasty:

Fertile and well-irrigated plains of Eastern China supported a population of more than 100 million.

In the Yungzi Valley, peasants produced huge rice crops.

In the 1500s new crops reached China including corn and sweet potatoes from the Americas.

Chinese cities created a large amount of porcelain, paper, and tools.

Repaired the extensive canal system that linked several regions and made trade easier.

Better and new methods of printing. Huge production of books.

Economic Revival:

Developed own styles of landscape painting and created magnificent blue and white porcelain.

Ming vases were the most valuable as well as popular products exported to the West.

Confucian Scholars produced classical poetry.Ming writers published novels and the very 1st

detective stories.Popular tradition of Chinese opera that

consisted of musical, dance, and drama.

Cultural Flowering:

In 1405, Zheng He commanded the 1st of 7 expeditions.

Departed 62 huge ships along with hundreds of smaller ones.

Carried more than 25,000 soldiers.The largest ship was 400 feet long.The goal of each expedition was to promote trade

and collect tribute from lesser powers across the “western seas”

Between 1405 &1433, Zheng He explored coasts of Southeast Asia and India and the entrances to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. As well as many parts of East Africa.

The Voyages Of Zheng He:

Zheng He: Zheng He, formerly romanized as Cheng Ho, He commanded expeditionary voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa.

Take out a piece of loose leaf and write your own journal

entry as one of Zheng He’s soldiers on one of the 7

voyages. Make it creative and have as much fun with it as

possible!

Group Activity:

You will now receive a crossword puzzle containing words

that connect to the Ming Dynasty. Fill out as much as you

can and it will be collected before you leave. Have Fun!!

Exit Ticket/Slip: