Zhu Yuanzhang

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Section 4 Vocabulary
Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor of the Ming
dynasty after the Mongols were driven out of
China Nanjing capital during the Ming
dynasty treason disloyalty to the govt Yong Le
second emporer of Ming dynasty census count
of number of people Genghis Khan strong
ruler novel long fictional story Zheng He
Chinese Muslim and court official and famous
Chinese explorer Portugal European country who
sent explorers to China making first
contact barbarians uncivilized people
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Section 4 Notes
The Rise of the Ming
After Kublai Khan died weak rulers began to loose
control of the Yuan dynasty. Mongols from the
north started to break away and The Chinese
wanted to take back control of their country. The
Ming dynasty began after Zhu Yuanzhang and his
followers drove out the Mongols and became
emperor. He moved the capital to Nanjing. He
brought order to the country but killed anyone
who the thought was disloyal (treason). He ruled
for 30 years then died and his son Yong Le took
over.
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Yong Le moved the capital to Beijing. He built
large palaces and govt buildings. He also built
the Forbidden City where the emperor lived and
only top officials could enter. The Forbidden
City still exists today. During the Ming dynasty
plays (dramas) became popular because it was a
time of properity.
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Section 4 Notes

• MING REFORMS
• Restored civil service exam so officials could
  carry out orders
• Compiled a census (counted the people) to collect
  taxes more accurately
• Rebuilt canals and farms destroyed by Mongols,
  planted new forests, paved new roads
• Repaired and expanded Grand Canal so more easy to
  trade between north and south China
• Imported new rice that grew faster

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Chinese Explorers
Ming emperors were curious about the world
outside of China and wanted to increase Chinas
influence around the world so they built ships
for exploration and trade.
Zheng He

• Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim explorer who went
  on 7 sea voyages in order to
• Trade
• Show off Chinas power
• Demand tribute (taxes) from weaker kingdoms

NOTE He has a fleet of 62 large ships, 250
smaller ships, and 28,000 men. His largest ship
was more than 5xs longer than Christopher
Columbus Santa Maria
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Section 4 Notes
Zheng He
Zheng He traveled to SE Asia, India, Arabian
Peninsula and E Africa EXPORTS silk, paper, and
porcelain. IMPORTS silver, spices, wood and
exotic animals (giraffe) Some Chinese merchants
settled in SE Asia and India in order to trade
and spread the Chinese culture. Some Chinese
officials did not like Zheng Hes traveling
because 1. Cost too much 2. New ideas were
coming to China 3. Merchants were becoming too
rich When Zheng He died the voyages were stopped
and the ships were dismantled (torn apart)
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Section 4 Notes
Europeans in China
Europeans from Portugal arrived in China in 1514.
This was Europes first contact since Marco Polo
in the early 1300s. The Portuguese went to China
to trade and as missionaries to convince the
Chinese to become Christian. First the Chinese
thought the Portuguese were barbarians and would
not trade with them but after many years they
began to trade. Many of the missionaries were
Jesuits priests who were highly educated. This
impressed the Chinese but the priests were not
able to convert many Chinese to Christianity.
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Section 4 Notes
Decline of the Ming dynasty
Ming emperors had too much power and gave
officials little power. Then China had weak
emperors and greedy officials who taxed the
people too much. People started to revolt (fight
back) Manchus people from Manchuria captured
Beijing and set up a new dynasty and the Ming
dynasty fell.