Ming and Qing Dynasties

1
Ming and Qing Dynasties

• Alex Anduze

2
Ming Dynasty Beginnings

• Began with the overthrow of the Mongols-1368
• First years were characterized by effective
  government and a strong economy
• Population and food stocks grew
• Confucianism reemerged
• International trade continued, despite cautious
  rulers

3
Political Characteristics

• All powerful emporer ruled the empire
• Capitol Beijing- Emperor ruled from the
  Forbidden City
• Civil service bureaucracy was reestablished
• Army- 1 million troops

4
Economic Progress

• 16th century Ming China had more commercial
  activity than any other nation in the world
• Large percentage of people were merchants and
  traders
• Port cities grew and were very clean, unlike
  today
• Macao
• Guangzhou
• Hangzhou
• Shanghai

5
Cultural Contact With Outsiders

• Attitude of time was that the Middle Kingdom
  needed little from anyone else
• Portuguese and Dutch were the only Europeans
  allowed to trade inside of China
• Contact and exchange of culture between Japan and
  China were prominent
• Jesuit missionaries, led by Matteo Ricci, tried
  to convert the Chinese to Catholicism but failed

6
Decline of the Ming

• Series of weak and corrupt emperors
• Over-extended to the north and west
• Peasants rebelled against the weak government
• Eventually, the Manchus from the north overthrew
  the Ming Dynasty in 1644

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Qing DynastyBeginnings

• Manchus gain control over Beijing-1644
• Conquer all of China near the end of the 17th
  century, establishing the Qing Empire
• Qing were able rulers China grew to its largest
  size under their rule and was the largest country
  in the world

8
Political Organization

• Qing Dynasty had two great rulers
• Kangxi 1661-1722
• Qianlong 1736-1795
• During the 130 years that these two men ruled,
  China grew to become a prosperous and powerful
  empire
• Qing leaders separated Manchus and Chinese
• Intermarriage was prohibited
• Highest government officials were all Manchus

9
Economic and Social Characteristics

• Unlike the Ming who had a commercial economy, the
  Qing relied on agriculture more than trade
• The work of a peasant farmer was seen as more
  honest and worthy of respect than that of a
  merchant
• Men had almost absolute control over women
• Foot binding started
• Widows were encouraged to commit suicide if their
  husbands died

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Cultural Influences

• Porcelain, calligraphy, painting major forms of
  art
• Confucianism stayed strong
• Many of the people of China were educated
• Most famous novels of the time were Book of the
  Golden Lotus and the Dream of the Red Chamber

11
Collapse of the Qing

• Weak rulers after Kangxi and Qianglong
• Economic rivalries between Britain and China led
  to the Opium War
• Eventually the dynastay crumbled due to these
  factors combined with civil unrest, flooding, and
  famine