History of the Ming dynasty
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The Ming dynasty (1368–1644) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled after the fall of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. It was the last imperial dynasty of China ruled by the Han people, the majority ethnic group in China. At its height, the Ming dynasty had a population of 160 million people, while some assert the population could actually have been as large as 200 million.
The founder of the dynasty was Zhu Yuanzhang, one of the leaders of the uprising against the Yuan dynasty. In 1368, he declared himself emperor and adopted the era name "Hongwu" for his reign, naming the dynasty he founded "Ming", meaning "Brilliant." In the same year, the capital of the Yuan, Dadu (present-day Beijing), was captured. The Hongwu Emperor aimed to create a society based on self-sufficient rural communities and to limit the influence of merchants. As a result of his actions, agriculture was revitalized and a network of roads was constructed for both military and administrative purposes. He also maintained a standing army of at least one million soldiers.
During the reign of the Yongle Emperor (r. 1402–1424), the Grand Canal was rebuilt and a new capital, Beijing, was established. This new capital included the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial residence for the emperor and his family. Between 1405 and 1433, Admiral Zheng He (1371–1433) led a series of seven expeditions with a newly built, enormous fleet. These expeditions were international tributary missions that reached the coasts of Southeast Asia and the shores of the Indian Ocean, as far as Egypt and Mozambique. In 1449, the Chinese forces were defeated by the Mongols in the Battle of Tumu, resulting in the capture of Emperor Yingzong. This event marked the end of China's military superiority over the nomads from the north. To counter this threat, the Great Wall of China was expanded at a tremendous cost starting in 1474.
Since the 16th century, trade between China and Europe and Japan had been steadily growing. China primarily exported silk and porcelain, while importing silver as the main form of economic exchange, replacing copper coins and banknotes. However, in the 17th century, a combination of climate changes and poor economic policies led to famines and epidemics. This, coupled with a decline in government authority, resulted in numerous uprisings throughout the empire. In 1644, the rebel army successfully captured Beijing, leading to the suicide of the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen (r. 1627–1644). The leader of the uprising, Li Zicheng, declared himself the emperor of the new Shun dynasty. However, after only a month, Manchu troops took control of Beijing, marking the beginning of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty's rule in China. The Ming dynasty was able to maintain control in southern China until 1662.