Ming Dynasty

• Yuan dynasty under Mongol rule was overrun by a rebellion of Chinese peasants and landowners


  1368 CE
• Ming Dynasty


  The last traditional Chinese dynasty
• Ming Dynasty


  • Efforts to restore traditional Chinese culture after a century of being subservient to the Mongols
  • Mongols saw Chinese culture as weak and undeserving of Mongol attention
  • Mongols were tolerant of Chinese belief systems but saw no need to adopt the Chinese way of life
• Ming Dynasty's push to restore Chinese greatness and wipe away Mongol influence

  1. Re-establishing the civil service exam

  2. Rebuilding Confucian universities and Buddhist temples

  3. Rebuilding the system of bureaucracy that flourished under the Han and Tong

  4. Breaking the government into 6 separate ministries

  5. Greatly expanding bureaucracy which gave social mobility to those educated in Confucian teachings

  6. Connecting the Great Wall of China to expel outside forces
• Ming dynasty Emperor Yongle compiled much of Chinese culture into an encyclopedia
• The Ming dynasty revived traditional Han Chinese culture of Confucian beliefs such as filial piety
• Equality engaged under the Yuan Dynasty was eradicated and rejected under the Ming
• Women went back into positions of subservience, and the practice of footbinding was brought back under the Ming
• The Ming revival aimed to bring back the idea of Chinese ethnocentricity and the idea of the Middle Kingdom
• Ming Dynasty's expansion and exploration


  • Attempted to reenact the tribute system established by the Han dynasty
  • Wanted to reestablish dominance beyond Chinese borders through tribute and trade
  • Aimed to have political power and influence over naval areas in the Indian Ocean and trade networks
• Ming Dynasty's naval exploration


  1. Launching the largest naval fleet in history till World War I

  2. Sending Chinese treasure ships to collect tribute from foreign states

  3. Asserting dominance and bringing Chinese luxury goods to establish trading relationships

  4. Diffusing Chinese technology like naval cannons, magnetic compass, and junks into the Indian Ocean trade
• After the death of the Yongle emperor


  Many decided to call back the navy and focus inward on China, beginning a large period of isolationism
• Reasons for Ming Dynasty's isolationism

  • Conservative members believed expansion and foreign interaction would overwhelm traditional Chinese culture
  • Belief that China did not need any foreign goods/technology due to the idea of the Middle Kingdom
  • Only allowing foreign merchants to purchase Chinese goods but not sell their own
• Due to isolationism, the Ming Dynasty began to lose political power in East Asia