Ming Dynasty and the Wider World (1400-1600)

Yongle Emperor (1360-1424)

Based in Beijing, after 1380

Civil war, 1399-1402

* Yongle Emperor, r. 1403-24

Ambitious Policies

Dredged Grand Canal

Why was this important?

Capital Moved to Beijing, 1420

*The Forbidden City

Inner Palace: Eunuchs and concubines

Outer Palace: Throne and meetings with officials

5 campaigns against Mongols, 1409-1424

7 Voyages to Indian Ocean, 1405-33

*Zheng He (lived 1371-1433)

Muslim Eunuch

250-300 ships

28,000 men

Reemergance of Civil Elite

Reign of Xuande (r. 1425-35)

Confucian education

Enjoyed poetry and painting

Last voyage of Zheng He, 1433

Later Foreign Policy Trends

Zhengtong Emperor's (r. 1435-49, 1457-64)

Campaign against Mongols, 1449

Captured at Tumu

Great Wall construction, 16th century

Gentry

Landowners

Confucian education

Pass civil service exams to serve in government

Shang Lu (1414-1486) (Brook, p. 151, fig. 11)

Enjoyed refined hobbies

"Enjoying Antiquities" (Brook, p. 195)