Medieval World

Zhu Yuanzhang

Dec 18, 1367

After a seven-year battle, Zhu Yuanzhang's army ends the rule of the Yuan Dynasty. Several years earlier Zhu had taken his army into Jiqing, established a military base there as part of his plan to control all of China.

Declaration of Empire

Dec 18, 1368

Zhu takes control of China as the first emperor of the Ming dynasty. He makes Jin Ling, now known as Nanjing, the capital.

Trade in China

Dec 18, 1371

In an attempt to cut down on piracy, maritime, or sea, trade is banned in China. The only way that foreigners are allowed into China is if they are from a country that is part of China's trade system called the imperial tributary system. The ban ends in 1405.

History of China

Dec 18, 1408

An enormous encyclopedia about China called the Yongle Canon is completed after five years. It has 22,877 volumes, about 370 million words, and was written entirely by hand. It is the largest encyclopedia in the world.

New Capitol

Oct 28, 1420

After construction on the Forbidden City is complete, Beijing becomes the new capital of China. It has remained the nation's capital since then and with over 20,000,000 residents is one of the most populated cities in the world.

Ottoman Empire

Apr 6, 1463

Constantinople falls, giving the Ottoman empire a huge leap ahead and a much needed victory to satisfy their emperor.

Prince Babur

Feb 14, 1483

Prince Babur is born. He will begin the empires in India.

Suleiman the Magnificent

Sep 30, 1520

The beginning of this man's reign. He would reign for 46 years, and would bring the Ottoman Empire to it's peak.

Akbar the Great

Oct 14, 1542

Humayun dies and Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors, inherits the throne at the age of thirteen

Edo Starts

Dec 18, 1603

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) appoints himself shogun, formalizing Edo as the new capital from Kyoto.

Seige of Osaka Castle

Nov 8, 1614

The Seige of Osaka Castle lasted three months and was a devastating blow to the Shogun.

Kano Sanraku

Dec 18, 1635

Kano Sanraku dies (1559-1635). Founded Kano School, the dominant traditional approach to Japanese painting of the era.

Qing Begins

Dec 18, 1636

In 1636 Huang Taiji of Manchuria in northeast China renames his region Qing. The word in Chinese means pure.

Seclusion

Dec 18, 1639

Policy of Japanese national seclusion established. Only Nagasaki Island is open, and only to traders from the Netherlands.

Kangxi

Feb 7, 1661

The first emperor dies in 1661. His son, Kangxi, takes over at the age of seven. He reigns for 61 years, encouraging painting, porcelain making, and literature. He often tours his empire to make sure things are working smoothly.

Ogata Korin

Dec 18, 1716

Ogata Korin (1658-1716) dies. Korin established style known as rinpa, a major Edo style.

Maruyama Okyo

Dec 18, 1795

Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) dies. Okyo established a lyrical, naturalistic style and trained many artists.

Opium War

Mar 18, 1839

The government doesn't do much about the opium problem until 1839 when a commissioner is sent to Canton. He burns some 20,000 chests of opium and bans all British trade. England declares war. The Qing cannot win against British battleships and their newer guns. The Qing surrenders in 1842.