The Ming Dynasty

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The Mongolians were pushed back to the steppes and replaced by the Ming Dynasty（1368-1644）.Zhu Yuanzhang（1328-1398），founder of the dynasty，laid the foundation for a state interested less in commerce and more in extracting revenues from the agricultural sector.Perhaps because of the Emperor’s background as a peasant，the Ming economic system emphasized agriculture，unlike that of the Song and Yuan Dynasties，which relied on traders and merchants for revenue.Neo-feudal landholdings of the Song and Yuan Period were expropriated by the Ming rulers.Great landed estates were rcture I-10 Emperor Tai，Zhu confiscated by the government，fragmented，and rented out.

Private slavery was forbidden.Consequently，after the Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty death of Emperor Yongle（1360-1424），independent peasant landholders predominated in Chinese agriculture.These laws might have paved the way for removing the worst of the poverty during the previous regimes.The laws against the merchants and the restrictions under which the craftsmen worked remained essentially as they had been under the Song，but now the remnants of the older foreign merchant class also fell under these new Ming laws.Their influence quickly dwindled.

Emperor Yongle strenuously tried to extend China’s influence beyond its borders by demanding other rulers to send ambassadors to China to present tribute.A large navy was built，including four-masted ships displacing 1，500 tons.A standing army of 1 million troops

（some estimate as many as 1.9 milion）was created.The Chinese armies conquered Annam while the Chinese fleet sailed the China seas and the Indian Ocean，cruising as far as the eastcoast of Africa.Several maritime Asian nations sent envoys with tribute for the Chinese emperor.

Domestically，the Grand Canal was expanded，and proved to be a stimulus to domestic trade.

Over 100，000 tons of iron per year were produced.Many books were printed using movable type.The imperial palace in Beijing’s Forbidden City reached its current splendor.

The Ming Dynasty seems to have been one of China’s most prosperous dynasties.It was also during these centuries that the potential of southern China came to be fully exploited.New crops were widely cultivated，and industries such as those producing porcelain and textiles flourished.Foreign trade and other contacts with the outside world，particularly Japan，increased considerably.Chinese merchants explored all of the Indian Ocean，reaching East Africa with the voyages of Zheng He.

The last construction on the Great Wall took place during the Ming Dynasty.While the Great Wall had been built in earlier times，most of what is seen today was either built or repaired by the Ming Regime.The brick and granite work was enlarged，the watch towers were redesigned，and cannons were placed along its length.