Download The Yuan and Ming Dynasties

THE YUAN AND MING
DYNASTIES
Chapter 7, Section 4
MAIN IDEAS
 The
Mongol Empire included China,
and the Mongols ruled China as the
Yuan dynasty.
 The Ming dynasty was a time of
stability and prosperity.
 China under the Ming saw great
changes in its government and
relations with other countries.
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
THE MONGOL EMPIRE
The Mongol Conquest
Mongols – Nomads who
attacked the Chinese. Live
in the north.
 1206: Genghis Khan unites
the nomads and becomes a
powerful leader.
 The Mongols were very
brutal and terrifying, killed
entire populations of towns
and villages.

Genghis Khan fought, and
conquered northern
China.
 Destroyed villages and
farmland.
 Kublai Khan took power
in 1260. In 1279 he
declared himself emperor
of China –began the Yuan
Dynasty.

Life in Yuan China
 The
Mongols had a
different culture language, religion,
clothes and customs.
 The Chinese disliked
them and were
angry that the
Mongols were in
control.
Look
at your notes – what
question can you create that will
be answered by the information
in your notes?
Write the question below the
notes for this key term.
YUAN DYNASTY (1279 – 1368)
Pros
 Chinese
weren’t forced
to accept Mongol
culture.
 Mongol soldiers kept
trade routes safe and
encouraged foreign
trade.
 Marco Polo: Italian
trader who worked in
Kublai Khan’s court.
Cons
 Mongols
didn’t allow
Confucian scholars to
have too much power.
 Chinese had to pay
high taxes.
 Forced labor on publicworks projects –
extended the Grand
Canal, built roads and
palaces.
Look
at your notes – what
question can you create that will
be answered by the information
in your notes?
Write the question below the
notes for this key term.
THE END OF THE YUAN DYNASTY
Reasons for the Fall of
the Yuan Dynasty
 Greed
– the Mongols
invaded Japan to get
more land, but they
failed.
 Weak military –
couldn’t control the
people.
 Weak economy – too
many public works
projects.
Cause and Effect
 Mongols
invade Japan
and lose
 Economy/Military
 Chinese
weak
rebel – led by a
monk named Zhu
Yuanzhang, 1368.
 Look
at your notes – what question
can you create that will be answered
by the information in your notes?
 Write the question below the notes
for this key term.
THE MING DYNASTY (1368 – 1644)
Great Sea Voyages
Improved ships and
sailing skills.
 Zheng He – greatest
sailor. From 1405 – 1433
he led seven voyages
around Asia.
 He had a fleet of 60 ships,
25,000 sailors, ships larger
than 300 ft.
 Met with foreign leaders
to show China’s power.

Great Building Projects



Wanted to impress the
Chinese as well as their
enemies.
Restored the Great Wall
 2000 miles long
 25 feet tall, 12 feet wide
Built the Forbidden City in
Beijing.
 More than 9000 rooms
 Royal homes, temples,
government buildings.
 No common people allowed.
 Look
at your notes – what question
can you create that will be answered
by the information in your notes?
 Write the question below the notes
for this key term.
CHINA UNDER THE MING
Changes in Government
 Emperors
took on
more control, got rid
of some government
officials.
 Used exams to choose
censors – people who
investigated local
leaders, schools, etc.
Relations with Other
Countries
1430s – New Ming
emperor bans foreign
trade.
 Isolationism – avoiding
contact with other
countries.
 Isolationism kept China
from making
advancements in
technology, weakened
China.

 Look
at your notes – what question
can you create that will be answered
by the information in your notes?
 Write the question below the notes
for this key term.