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1351
Fall of the Yuan Dynasty
Due to famine, natural disasters such as flooding, and the revolt by the lower classes/peasants against the yuan dynasty's cast system and discrimination; the yuan dynasty begins to crumble.
Photo Source: http://chenyeong.blogspot.com/2010/10/ilustrated-history-on-rise-fall-of.html -
1358
Taking over China
A poor young monk named Zhu YuanZhang joins the Red Turban Rebellion, Zhu becomes leader of the rebels and leads the rebels to revolt against the mongol's. Conquering many territories such as Nanjing which he then makes his capital, during this time the Yuan empire begins to slowly retreat. -
1368
Beginning of a new empire
Zhu Yuangzhang leads his army to defeat many mongol armies, finally 10 years later Zhu leads his rebel army into the Yuan empire's capital of Dadu. They defeat the mongol army in their own capital and the rebels take over forcing the Yuan empire to an end. This would now start the beginning of the Ming empire.
photo source:http://www.chinasage.info/dynastyming.htm -
1368
A New Emperor
Zhu YuanZhang names himself emperor of the Ming Dynasty otherwise known as the Hongwu Emperor which stands for "Vast Magnificent Military".
Photo Source: https://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-ming-dynasty -
Period: 1368 to
The Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty was one of the most influential empire's in china's history, as well as one of the longest. The purpose of this timeline is to display to events and history of the empire throughout time from its beginning to end. -
1370
Changes in Government
Emperor Hongwu removes Eunuchs from government to limit power and were banned from political affairs, were also forced to be illiterate. Hongwu then staffs the government with people who passed the "Neo-Confucian Imperial Exams", these officials were seen to be more loyal. -
1371
Pro Peasant Policy/ Anti merchant policy
Hongwu passes a policy for the lower classes or Peasants, this policy distributed land to peasants and allowed them to keep the land as their own as long as they kept it under cultivation. This policy helped the peasants rise in their classes, as well as helped increase the population during the time of his reign. During this time the emperor issued a sea ban policy in efforts to weaken the merchant class, as he tried his best to help the peasant class rise as he too was a peasant in the past. -
1402
Hongwu Dies, A New Emperor takes Power
Emperor Hongwu passes away in 1398, Zhu Yunwen takes over as emperor in 1399 but is quickly removed by Zhu Di the fourth son of Hongwu, in 1402. During the first years of the new emperor Zhu Di also known as "Emperor Yongle" , he moves the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. This begins the construction of the new capital city and the "Forbidden city
Photo Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/rietje/24342378549 -
1433
The Ming Golden Age
Emperor Yongle rebuilds the Grand Canal and builds a huge sea fleet that consisted of 2,000 ships and was led by Zheng He, this fleet was sent on expeditions to the west to trade. During the time period of emperor Yongle's ruling, the Ming Empire was thriving and received new goods and wealth from trade in Arabia and parts of Africa.
Photo source: http://humanitieswest.net/the-power-and-glory-of-chinas-ming-dynasty/ -
1521
Changes in Leadership over Years/Beginning of invasions
During the period of this time there have been several changes in Emperors after Yongle. during this time Eunuchs were placed back into the political scene, mongols invade the dynasty and capture emperor Ying, Europeans arrive to trade, but the Portuguese were put in jail shortly after arriving. -
The Decline of the Dynasty
The beginning of the decline of the Ming dynasty starts with the rule of Emperor Tianqi, during his time of ruling there were several natural disasters to occur such as several earth quakes, and famine broke out across the northern regions due to the unusually cold weather. After Tianqi's rule came Emperor Chongzhen, also the last Emperor of this dynasty. During his time of ruling a monetary crisis broke out due to limited trade, this cause great amounts of soldiers to leave the military. -
The Fall of The Ming Dynasty
Civil Rebellions being to occur within the Ming troops, a soldier named Li Zicheng beings to rebel with fellow soldiers after they did not receive a shipment and essentially being left to starve. Throughout these final years an epidemic breaks out killing many throughout parts of the empire. Being tired of starvation and no pay Li Zicheng leads his rebel army to take over many parts of the empire, eventually the rebel army arrives at the gates of beijing and the Emperor had then hung himself -
End of a Dynasty
After the Fall of the Emperor , the Ming general Wu Sangui allowed the Manchus pass through the great wall and begin to invade the empire. This marked the end of the Ming Dynasty as the Manchs had taken over the capital of Beijing.
Photo Source: http://www.writeopinions.com/fall-of-the-ming-dynasty
