Yuan vs. Ming

• Who were the leaders?

• What were the strengths?

• What were the weaknesses?

• What happened to these empires?

Yuan Dynasty

• • The Yuan dynasty was different than the ones before it because the leaders weren’t Chinese- they were Mongols

The Mongols were a tribe of nomads from the north

• These nomads were fierce and they terrorized people throughout Asia

Yuan Leaders

•

Genghis Khan- a brutal leader who conquered northern China

, wrecking towns, killing people and ruining farmland •

Kublai Khan Genghis’ grandson, he conquered the rest of China and made himself emperor

• His dynasty is called the Yuan dynasty

Yuan Talents

• The Yuan dynasty was known for –

Conquering other people

with their powerful and brutal army – Trading: soldiers kept trade routes safe for merchants,

welcomed foreign traders into China

– Public works: used taxes to improve the Grand Canal, fix roads, create a postal system

Yuan Weaknesses

• •

Too much conquering!

Mongols tried to take over Japan and were defeated

Weak economy:

expensive public projects weakened the empire

Outcome

• The Yuan

dynasty fell when Chinese got fed up with Mongol rule and overthrew the dynasty

• The weakened Mongol rulers couldn’t stop the rebellion Japanese Samurai defeat Mongols

Ming Dynasty

• • Leader:

Zhu Yuanzhang

• He was a former monk who took charge of a rebel army and

defeated the Mongols in China Created a stable and prosperous dynasty

Ming Talents

• The Ming dynasty was known for: – Building:

built the Forbidden City-

a city with hundreds of buildings that only the rich and powerful could go in. Also restored the Great Wall –

Sailing: Zheng He sailed around Asia, to Africa,

had a huge fleet with 25,000 sailors and 300 ft. long boats – Protecting power: Ming emperors kept power to themselves

Forbidden City satellite view Zheng He’s voyages

Ming Weaknesses

•

Isolationism- a policy of avoiding contact with other countries

–

During the Ming dynasty, China banned foreign trade and stopped sailing to foreign lands

Outcome

•

Due to isolationism, China’s glory faded

as the Western world made huge technological advances without them

Now we know…

• Who was Genghis Khan?

Now we know…

• How did the Mongols gain control of China?

Now we know…

• Who was Zheng He? What did he do?

Now we know…

• What is isolationism?

Now we know…

• Trade and other contact with peoples far from China stopped under which dynasty?

a. Yuan b. Song c. Ming d. Sui

Now we know…

• What was the name of the palace complex with hundreds of structures built during the Ming dynasty?