Ming

• Ming-Qing Wars


  The Qing army captured Beijing and forced the last Ming emperor to commit suicide
• Ming Dynasty


  The Ming Dynasty was a Chinese empire that ruled from 1368 to 1644 CE, reviving Confucianism, promoting social and economic growth, and achieving great cultural achievements.
• Zhu Yuanzhang


  Founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ruled from 1368 to 1398
• Ming Culture


  Emphasis on Confucianism, literature, and art
• Ming Government


  Imperial system with a strong bureaucracy
• Ming Military


  Professional army with a focus on defense
• Ming Capital


  Nanjing
• Ming Economy


  Agriculture, trade, and commerce with a focus on agriculture
• What role did the civil service examination system play in the Ming Dynasty?

  It was pivotal in the recruitment of officials
• What was the primary method of selecting government officials in the Ming Dynasty?

  The imperial examination system based on Confucian classics
• What did the examination system emphasize in terms of appointments?

  Merit-based appointments rather than hereditary privilege
• What qualifications did scholars need to be appointed to administrative positions?

  Proficiency in Confucian classics and governance
• What are the key features of the civil service examination system in the Ming Dynasty?

  • Pivotal role in recruitment of officials
  • Based on Confucian classics
  • Emphasized merit-based appointments
  • Scholars appointed based on proficiency in governance
• Who governed the provinces during the Ming Dynasty?

  Civil officials known as provincial governors
• To whom did the provincial governors report in the Ming Dynasty?

  They reported directly to the central government
• What was the purpose of establishing the Jinyiwei in the Ming Dynasty?

  To centralize authority and suppress dissent in the empire
• In what form did the Ming Dynasty primarily collect taxes?

  In hard currency, particularly copper coins
• What was the benefit of implementing a standardized system of tax collection in the Ming Dynasty?

  It provided a more efficient means of assessing and managing revenue
• How did the use of standardized copper coins affect the fiscal system of the Ming Dynasty?

  It facilitated a centralized fiscal system
• What advantage did the Ming government gain from better control and monitoring of tax collection?

  It improved revenue management across vast territories
• What challenges did the Ming Dynasty face regarding its tax collection system?

  • Issues of inflation
  • Economic strain
• How did the challenges of inflation and economic strain affect the Ming Dynasty?

  They contributed to the dynasty’s eventual economic decline
• What was the time period of the Ming Dynasty in China?

  1368–1644
• What role did religious beliefs play in the Ming Dynasty?

  They significantly influenced the administration of the dynasty
• Which ideology served as the dominant influence in the Ming Dynasty's imperial bureaucracy?

  Confucianism
• What other religious and philosophical traditions coexisted with Confucianism during the Ming Dynasty?

  Daoism and Buddhism
• What did the Ming emperors aim to establish in society?

  A moral and harmonious society
• What values did the Ming emperors emphasize?

  Filial piety, respect for authority, and ethical conduct
• What significant architectural achievement is associated with the Ming Dynasty?

  The Forbidden City
• Where is the Forbidden City located?

  At the heart of Beijing, China
• What does the Forbidden City represent in terms of architecture?

  An iconic testament to the grandeur of imperial Chinese architecture
• How long did the Forbidden City serve as the imperial palace?

  Nearly 500 years
• In what year was the Forbidden City completed?

  1420
• What features characterize the Forbidden City?

  A vast complex of palaces, halls, and courtyards surrounded by defensive walls
• How many buildings are in the Forbidden City?

  Nearly 1,000 buildings
• How many rooms does the Forbidden City contain?

  Over 8,000 rooms
• How is the layout of the Forbidden City organized?

  It is laid out on a north-south axis
• What does the layout of the Forbidden City reflect?

  Traditional Chinese cosmology