ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What
created the power and limitations of
absolutism during the Ming Dynasty.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Examine the
emergence of the Ming Dynasty and
how the creation of the Forbidden City
added to China’s feeling of superiority.
The Ming Dynasty

Yuanzhang was born a peasant
& worked through the military
ranks
◦ Known as a harsh ruler
 killed all of his opposition

Brought pride & power back
to China
◦ Reinstated Civil Service The
exam made sure gov’t officials
were intelligent
◦ Built the Forbidden City
Zhu Yuanzhang
Forbidden City

Location: center of Beijing
◦ It served as the Emperor’s
palace during the Ming and Qin
dynasties.
 Now it is a palace museum.
◦ It is the world’s largest palace
complex and covers over 2.3
million sq ft (178 acres)
The Ming Dynasty
1368-1644
 Formed by Zhu
Yuanzhang

◦ He successfully forced
the Mongols out of
the country
 Wanted to restore
Chinese greatness
CHINA’S WONDERS

Forbidden City
CHINA’S WONDERS

Forbidden Palace
◦ Surrounded by a six
meter deep moat
◦ About 25 ft high wall
◦ There are over 800
buildings and 9999
rooms.
Forbidden City

History:
◦ Construction began in
1406.
 14 years to build.
 200,000 men used
◦ Housed 24 emperors
until 1912
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How did
Chinese religious ideas and
philosophies differ from western
thought?
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Understand the philosophies and
religions that helped to hold the
Chinese civilization together.
Ming Dynasty: Confucian State
During Ming:
Confucian ideals
were brought back
 Confucius was born
in 551 BC

◦ He wanted to restore
peace & created a
guide to proper
behavior
Ming Dynasty: Confucian State

Analects, a book of his teachings, written by his
followers
◦ In order to have peace 5 relationships must
exist

Ruler/ruled

Father /son

Husband/wife

Older brother/younger brother

Friend/friend

It’s the superior person’s responsibility to set the
example for the inferior
Ming Dynasty

Filial Piety: duty & respect children owe
their parents
Chinese Exploration
Chinese Exploration
Chinese Exploration

Cheng Ho: one of China’s
greatest explorers
◦ Born a commoner & Muslim
◦ Captured by the military

Reached India & East Coast of
Africa
◦ Made 7 voyages
◦ 100,000 miles
◦ Established a trade empire for
China
Chinese Exploration

Began having major problems with pirates
in the Pacific
◦ The emperor forced all people to move away
from the coast & closed down China
He told his people they would be a
continental power
 No one was allowed to enter or leave the
country

◦ Results in the Chinese falling behind the rest
of the world
The wonders of
CHINA
THE GREAT WALL
The Great Wall
◦
The wall stretches about
5,500 miles.
◦ It winds up and down across
deserts, mountains, grasslands
and plateaus.
◦ It travels from east to west
China.
◦
Nearly 2000 years old. Some
sections are decayed.
CHINA’S WONDERS
The Great Wall
Construction began in the 7th century BC.
 Sections built under Chou dynasty each
built their own walls for protection.
 After state of Chin (Qin) unified country
in 221 BC, it joined the walls to hold off
invaders from the north.
◦ Invader: Huns
The Great Wall

Major renovation under
the Ming Dynasty
◦ Present form under Ming.

Ming wanted to make
sure Mongols would not
come back.
The Great Wall
Towers of the Wall
are 32 feet high
 It has battle forts at
important points and
the corners.

◦ Soldiers were posted on
top to warn of attacks.
CHINA’S WONDERS

Great Wall: History
◦ is crenellated for watching
and shooting at the invading
enemy.
CHINA’S WONDERS
Great Wall
Jiayuguan
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Explain how
the Manchu overthrew the Ming and
established a multi-ethnic Qing Dynasty
that doubled the size of the Chinese
Empire
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain how the
Manchu were able to invade and bring an end
to the Ming Dynasty
Manchu Invasion
Manchu Dynasty aka Qing Dynasty
 Last Dynasty of China: 1644-1912
 Founded by Manchu people

◦ Semi-nomadic people from NE China
Manchu Invasion
1644: Manchu were able to take
advantage of rebellions against Ming
 Ming Rebellions:
 Beijing was conquered by rebel forces led
by Li Zicheng

◦ Ming army did not protect the capital because
they had mutinied
◦ Rather than be captured the last Ming
emperor hanged himself
LI ZICHENG
LI AND THE BANDITS
Manchu Invasion

Wu Sangui (Ming general) allied himself
with the Manchu
◦ In order to drive out the rebel forces

They were successful but this allowed the
Manchu to take over
WU SANGUI
Manchu Dynasty
Developed peacefully : it was a time of
economic growth & development
 Tried to forced their way of life on China
but adopted Chinese cultures & traditions
 Limits:
◦ only Manchu could hold the highest government
office
◦ Marriage was forbidden between Manchu & Han
◦ Imperial China reached it height of power