Established in 1368, the Ming valued a Confucian order and organized a tributary system. At the same time, it adopted a maritime prohibition policy banning private overseas trade.
The Founding and System of the Ming
- Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor): born a peasant, defeated the Yuan and founded the dynasty; capital: Nanjing
- An autocratic imperial system directly under the Six Ministries (abolition of the chancellor)
- The lijia system: organized villages into li units for tax collection and public security
The Yongle Emperor and Zheng He’s Great Voyages
The third emperor, Yongle: moved the capital to Beijing (Beijing remains China’s capital today).
Zheng He, a Muslim eunuch, led seven great voyages from 1405 to 1433, reaching Southeast Asia, India, and the east coast of Africa. Although these voyages preceded Columbus by 87 years, the maritime prohibition policy was later strengthened, so the great voyages did not continue.
Tributary system: neighboring countries paid tribute to the Ming, and the Ming gave them gifts in return as an international order
The third emperor, Yongle: moved the capital to Beijing (Beijing remains China’s capital today).
Zheng He, a Muslim eunuch, led seven great voyages from 1405 to 1433, reaching Southeast Asia, India, and the east coast of Africa. Although these voyages preceded Columbus by 87 years, the maritime prohibition policy was later strengthened, so the great voyages did not continue.
Tributary system: neighboring countries paid tribute to the Ming, and the Ming gave them gifts in return as an international order
Key Points
- The Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing (still China’s capital today)
- Zheng He’s great voyages → reached Africa (before Columbus)
- Maritime prohibition policy → private trade was banned and controlled through the tributary system
Practice Questions
- Give the name and background of the person who founded the Ming.
- Give the name of the commander of the great voyages dispatched by the Yongle Emperor.
- What was the policy by which the Ming banned private overseas trade?
Answers
- Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor), born a peasant
- Zheng He
- The maritime prohibition policy