The Last Empire lasted from 1369-1911 AD. It consisted of 2 dynasties: the Ming dynasty and the Qing dynasty. The Ming dynasty was known for its peaceful and stable rule. It kept the capital at Beijing, like it still is today. Some reforms were made to the government by the first 2 Ming emperors, however. In the past, the highest position below the emperor had been the Chief Minister. This job was replaced with secretaries who held less power and could be fired if they needed to be. Also, the wealthy families became more influential in ruling China. They were in charge of civil matters such as building new schools, roads, and settling disputes.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the Ming dynasty were the 7 maritime expeditions from 1405-1433 AD. The Chinese made their way to Africa and Arabia to trade, but these trade missions didn't bring back much profit for China, so these expeditions were stopped.
Very little cultural change occurred in this time and China became very isolated from the rest of the world. They saw in their own history that new technologies brought on rebellions, which weakened their empire. Also, after they had driven the Mongols out of China, they believed that they were strong enough on their own alliances with other civilizations were not necessary, as well as they became untrusting of foreigners who the Chinese feared would have too much outside influence on China. This mindset was further set when in 1514 Portuguese traders and pirates came to China. They took spices, silk porcelain, and tea, but gave nothing back in return. The Chinese became even more untrusting of foreigners.
Later in 1600, a group of Jesuits made their way to Beijing. They were knowledgeable in Chinese culture and wanted to learn more, making a good impression with the Chinese. As the Jesuits traveled back to the west, they spread good words about China, which gave Europeans a good impression of the Chinese.
The Ming dynasty became so comfortable in their power that they didn't feel the need to brag to other civilization about their triumphs. This also contributed the China's isolation.
The Qing dynasty was the last dynasty in China's empire. It lasted from 1644-1911 AD. It is sometimes called the Manchu dynasty because it was founded the the Manchu in the north-east. To secure their rule, the Manchus took over all the higher ranking government positions, but also gave important position to military leaders who accepted the new dynasty.
Soon after this new dynasty began, China's territory expanded to Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, and Turkistan under the second Qing emperor.
Unlike the Ming dynasty, Qing rule was not stable. The population had increased from 150 million to 450 million, so land ownership, and food supply started to become problematic. In the mid 1800s, two rebellions broke out in the north and south. The Taiping rebellion lasted for 14 years, and the Nian rebellion happened when most of the military was focused in Taiping so the government seemed to be in trouble. This is what started to lead China's empire to it's final downfall. In a period of less than 75 years, China was involved in 4 wars (the Opium War, the Anglo-French War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Boxer Rebellion). China was defeated in all of them, which forced China to accept the rules of the countries that had defeated them. The Republican Revolution was the final step that ended the Chinese Empire.
This revolution began in 1911 when a plot against the Qing had been uncovered in the city of Wuchang. This discovery led to a revolt that neighbouring cities quickly joined. By November of that year, 15 out of the 24 provinces were independent of Qing rule. Sun Yat-sen, one of the leaders of the revolution had been in the U.S. but when he returned, he was made president of the new Chinese Republic. Yuan Shikai, the greatest military leader during that time, wanted to prevent civil war, so he and Sun Yat-sen agreed that China would become united not under the emperor, but under Yuan. This marks the end of emperor's rule in China, and marks the beginning of the modern era.
Works Cited
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Qing-dynasty
http://countrystudies.us/china/19.htm
One of the greatest accomplishments of the Ming dynasty were the 7 maritime expeditions from 1405-1433 AD. The Chinese made their way to Africa and Arabia to trade, but these trade missions didn't bring back much profit for China, so these expeditions were stopped.
Very little cultural change occurred in this time and China became very isolated from the rest of the world. They saw in their own history that new technologies brought on rebellions, which weakened their empire. Also, after they had driven the Mongols out of China, they believed that they were strong enough on their own alliances with other civilizations were not necessary, as well as they became untrusting of foreigners who the Chinese feared would have too much outside influence on China. This mindset was further set when in 1514 Portuguese traders and pirates came to China. They took spices, silk porcelain, and tea, but gave nothing back in return. The Chinese became even more untrusting of foreigners.
Later in 1600, a group of Jesuits made their way to Beijing. They were knowledgeable in Chinese culture and wanted to learn more, making a good impression with the Chinese. As the Jesuits traveled back to the west, they spread good words about China, which gave Europeans a good impression of the Chinese.
The Ming dynasty became so comfortable in their power that they didn't feel the need to brag to other civilization about their triumphs. This also contributed the China's isolation.
The Qing dynasty was the last dynasty in China's empire. It lasted from 1644-1911 AD. It is sometimes called the Manchu dynasty because it was founded the the Manchu in the north-east. To secure their rule, the Manchus took over all the higher ranking government positions, but also gave important position to military leaders who accepted the new dynasty.
Soon after this new dynasty began, China's territory expanded to Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, and Turkistan under the second Qing emperor.
Unlike the Ming dynasty, Qing rule was not stable. The population had increased from 150 million to 450 million, so land ownership, and food supply started to become problematic. In the mid 1800s, two rebellions broke out in the north and south. The Taiping rebellion lasted for 14 years, and the Nian rebellion happened when most of the military was focused in Taiping so the government seemed to be in trouble. This is what started to lead China's empire to it's final downfall. In a period of less than 75 years, China was involved in 4 wars (the Opium War, the Anglo-French War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Boxer Rebellion). China was defeated in all of them, which forced China to accept the rules of the countries that had defeated them. The Republican Revolution was the final step that ended the Chinese Empire.
This revolution began in 1911 when a plot against the Qing had been uncovered in the city of Wuchang. This discovery led to a revolt that neighbouring cities quickly joined. By November of that year, 15 out of the 24 provinces were independent of Qing rule. Sun Yat-sen, one of the leaders of the revolution had been in the U.S. but when he returned, he was made president of the new Chinese Republic. Yuan Shikai, the greatest military leader during that time, wanted to prevent civil war, so he and Sun Yat-sen agreed that China would become united not under the emperor, but under Yuan. This marks the end of emperor's rule in China, and marks the beginning of the modern era.
Works Cited
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Qing-dynasty
http://countrystudies.us/china/19.htm