9° Imperial China L4 The Ming Dynasty - Chinese Exploration

• World History
• Secondary Education

REVIEW

Which of the following became popular during the Ming dynasty?

1. landscape paintings
2. nature poems
3. novels
4. new forms of dance

The first Ming ruler, Hong Wu, restored law and order but was a(n)____ leader.

1. powerful
2. inexperienced
3. wasteful
4. harsh

Chinese Muslim who led several overseas voyages

1. Marco Polo
2. Zheng He
3. Zhu Yuanzang
4. Yangdi

Chinese exploration

• Early Ming emperors were curious about the world outside of China.
• They wanted to trade with other kingdom and wanted other rulers to see China’s power.

• Chinese merchants settled in Southeast Asia and India.
• Merchants earned a lot of money and added to China's wealth. 
• Yet the government thought the trips cost too much.

• They also said that the trips were bad for China because they would bring unwanted ideas from the outside world.

• Confucius taught that people's desires should come after loyalty to their community. 
• After the death of Zheng He, government officials stopped the trips.

• In A.D. 1514, ships from the European country of Portugal came to China.
•  The Portuguese wanted China to trade with them. They also wanted the Chinese to become Christians.

Which country was the first to make direct contact with China after Marco Polo?

1. England
2. Italy
3. Portugal
4. Spain

• In fact, the Chinese thought the Europeans were barbarians, or uncivilized people.
• Ideas from Europe came to China. 
• Not many Chinese became Christians.
• The Ming dynasty became weak.

person whom those in another culture believe to
be uncivilized

1. census
2. steppes
3. barbarian
4. Macao

• Dishonest officials took over the country. They made farmers pay high taxes. 
• The  farmers revolted. Manchus, defeated the Chinese armies and they set up a new dynasty

Why did the Ming dynasty eventually collapse?

1. Dishonest officials took over the country
2. Government under Ming emperors was too harsh.
3. Trade between Europe and China declined.
4. Too many European ideas reached China.