Historical context refers to the larger social, political, or cultural circumstances which gave rise to an event. Understanding its historical background helps better appreciate its meaning and significance.
At its height, the Ming Dynasty was one of the greatest empires ever seen in human history. To curb its expansion and keep his power intact, Hongwu Emperor disenfranchised imperial relatives and consolidated power under himself.
History of China
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emerged out of the chaos that befell China at the conclusion of Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, when natural disasters like flooding, drought and famine compounded citizen dissatisfaction with government inaction and led rebel arm led by peasant Zhu Yuanzhang to overthrow Yuan Dynasty and establish Ming Dynasty instead.
Zhu inherited a complex central government system from his predecessors and introduced several reforms. His goal was to consolidate power in his hands while eliminating opportunism and corruption that had come to plague Yuan rule. To do this, he simplified bureaucracy, by merging departments together into larger units; streamlining bureaucracy by merging offices together; abolishing chancellery titles altogether in favor of chief executive agencies responsible for overseeing six ministries; as well as initiating civil service examinations as well as setting up Censorate offices to check official misconduct.
He established a central administration rooted in Confucian values, creating an extensive university network to promote education and public morality. At the same time, his role became more autocratic, though he continued using what became known as the Grand Secretariat to assist him with all the paperwork of his office--memorials to the throne, imperial edicts in response, reports, and tax records.
China flourished and experienced rapid population growth under the Ming dynasty, as new imports from East allowed for wider planting of crops; tobacco, cotton and other cash crops helped expand China's economy; women also gained greater freedom during this time; they could run businesses or become merchants or dancers more freely than before.
The Ming Dynasty was marked by an intense sense of nationalism that stemmed from a desire to recover lost Chinese cultural heritage that had been diminished due to foreign influence during Yuan and Song periods. Scholars were encouraged to collect ancient artifacts, particularly Han-era jades and porcelains as symbols of old China; develop science disciplines; improve agriculture technology and mining operations; preserve Chinese classical literature and music as symbols of cultural renewal - among many other pursuits.
The Red Turban Rebellion
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) brought China back under native rule after nearly one hundred years under Mongol control. Although economic growth was unprecedented during this era, it was marred by famine, border disputes, crop failure, and financial instability - problems which eventually led to the fall of Yuan Dynasty and subsequent rebel armies led by Zhu Yuanzhang who would become known as Hongwu Emperor and have an enormously profound effect on Chinese history.
The Red Turban rebellion emerged amid widespread discontent. Its leaders took advantage of people's hunger, displeasure at having to work without pay for Yuan government contracts and deep-seated dislike for being governed by "barbarians" from Mongolia to gain popular support for their cause.
Although many rebels were peasants, they formed effective fighting units supported by local officials and merchants - giving them an edge against the heavily equipped Yuan army.
While the Red Turbans endured many setbacks in their military campaigns, Zhu Yuanzhang proved himself as an adept leader and managed to successfully navigate internal tensions within their movement. Due to personal experience of famine-devastation within his family, he could connect with poor peasants and rally them behind him.
By 1368, the Red Turbans had overrun Beijing and forced Yuan emperor Zhu Shih to flee Mongolia for Mongolia. Zhu then declared himself as the Emperor and declared himself Ming Dynasty ruler.
Ming emperors were some of the most powerful and influential figures in Chinese history. Their long reigns established basic governmental structure, policies, and tone that defined their entire dynasty. Additionally, this period witnessed the development of one of the world's largest encyclopedias (which eventually was eclipsed by Wikipedia) as well as initial medical literature regarding Eastern medicine as well as an expansive encyclopedia that only recently was outshone by Wikipedia - which helped reinvigorate China. Additionally, during this era was when its concept resurges; as this period saw the Ming Dynasty reign over 276 years longer than any other in history!
The Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty existed from 960-1279 CE and succeeded the earlier Tang Dynasty. During this period, China experienced unprecedented economic and technological development while its rulers focused on protecting their power, spreading Confucianism, promoting Chinese tradition culture and supporting scientific innovation.
Zhu Yuanzhang, commonly referred to as the Hongwu Emperor, was born into a peasant family and after becoming orphaned made a living through beggary before moving into a Buddhist monastery. When that monastery was destroyed he joined an army rebelling against Yuan dynasty; quickly rising through their ranks until eventually becoming leader and overthrowing all their emperors.
During China's Song Dynasty there was an enormous population surge and shift, from northern China below the Yangtze River southward. Wheat had become less of a staple crop and more Chinese people could consume rice as staple food; this allowed their populations to increase exponentially.
Major irrigation projects utilizing advanced waterworks and canal building techniques were implemented during the Song period to increase agricultural productivity, improve food distribution, trade, and trade in general. Furthermore, paper money was introduced alongside movable type printing allowing more knowledge to be disseminated quickly.
Song intellectuals were concerned with maintaining their dynasty and creating a culture of Chinese identity and national unity, expelling foreign doctrines while encouraging Confucianism and Taoism as native philosophies. Additionally, Song intellectuals promoted cultural revival during this period by encouraging artists to interpret classical Chinese styles in new ways.
Song Dynasty prosperity was not without its problems, however. Emperors became alarmed at the power of literati, taking steps to limit them by increasing reliance on trusted eunuchs and creating special agencies to oversee civil servant activities. There was growing discontent from commoners as well, eventually culminating in 1279 when Mongol armies invaded China and effectively ended the Song dynasty era.
The Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty reigned over China from 1368 to 1644. Taking power after Mongol Yuan Dynasty which had ruled since 13th Century. Although they faced many external and internal threats during their rule, Mings oversaw unprecedented population and economic expansion throughout China under their supervision.
Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, started out his career as a rebel leader against forced labor on government construction projects. When he eventually rose to power he promised to rid China of the corruption caused by Yuan Dynasty while reinstating Chinese values into government structures and society as a whole.
Though he made progressive reforms to agriculture and state management, famines, floods, epidemics, banditry, peasant revolts and peasant uprisings plagued his empire. Mongol rulers struggled against each other to quell these unrests but ultimately led to its downfall - leading to its eventual dissolution in 1368 and finally leading to collapse of Yuan Dynasty.
Ming emperors from Hongwu to Yongle attempted to restore the authority of their imperial family. They sought to reduce court eunuchs' and non-royal magnates' power, by enfeoffing their sons throughout China and publishing published dynastic instructions; additionally they established a navy with over one million troops as well as vast naval expeditions and vibrant maritime trade networks.
Ming culture flourished during this period. Restoring the Great Wall to its former splendor and exploring far flung regions by Admiral Zheng He created an impressive visual landscape. Ming writers created high quality literature while affordable illustrated books became accessible to masses. Traditional Chinese theatre, banned under Yuan dynasty rule, was revived through new forms called Kunqu.
Ming China welcomed goods imported from the "New World." This included imports like sweet potatoes, peanuts and tobacco which helped increase food production for an expanding population and raise standards of living in urban areas where women could work independently through businesses they opened or become artists and dancers; but changes to inheritance laws often disempowered women in this arena of property rights.
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