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Period: 1368 to 1398
Reign of the Hongwu emperor
Hongwu did a lot to shape the Ming dynasty and bring it together. Under his reign, the Civil Service Exam becomes even more complex and critical in determining one's future. He also got rid of the Cheif Minister and gained control of his powers. The scholar gentry class was important, but he humiliated and beat them so that they wouldn't grow too powerful. Along with this, Hongwu tried to help the poor, and improve their conditions, but that led to landlords getting richer. -
Period: 1405 to 1433
Zheng He expeditions from China to southeast Asia, India, and east Africa
These expeditions were significant because they allowed China to explore other lands, and show off the glory of the Ming empire. There were 7 major expeditions, and the fleet was very great and massive. However, these expeditions would also be the downfall of this dynasty in a way. China gradually stops putting effort in the fleets and then retreats from overseas involvement. This retreat was one of the factors in the decline of the Ming dynasty. -
1511
Portuguese conquest of Goa in western India
The Portuguese conquest of Goa was significant because it shows the growing power in Asia. Their settlement there gave them the perfect location for forced entry into the Asian trade network. This would disrupt the peaceful trade the Asian waters, and bring a profit for Portugal. -
1540
Francis Xavier makes mass converts in India
Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who was relatively successful with getting converts in India. Typically the most success was found with the untouchables and those in the lower castes as well. His actions were significant because it brought the faith to India, even if it didn't spread as much as he'd hoped. It was almost impossible to get the upper castes with missionary works, so overall they did the best they could. -
Hideyoshi unifies Japan
Hideyoshi was very skilled at diplomacy and made many alliances that would help Japan. During his time as ruler, he tried and failed to take over Korea, but there really was no warfare other than that, and none from within. However, he put Japan into isolation by first persecuting Christians and then banning foreign influence as well. -
Dutch and British assault on Portuguese empire in Asia
This event was significant because it showed the growing power of the Dutch and British, and the decline of the Portuguese empire in the sea. The Dutch would go on to be very prominent in the Asian waters and would be the only outside nation besides China to have contact with Japan during their period of isolation. The Dutch regulated trade of other nations, and peacefully worked their way into the Asian trade network, making money in different ways. -
Christianity banned in Japan
This was important because it was one of the factors the contributed to Japan's isolation policy. Christian missionaries had been in Japan for some time, and the previous emperor was very welcoming towards them. However, the next ruler ordered them off the island in 1580 and began persecuting them in 1590. These actions led to the banning of the faith, and other outside influences and contact. Christianity then became an underground faith. -
Period: to
Dutch East India Company established at Batavia on Java
This was significant because it shows the growing presence the Dutch have in Asian waters. They set up a port at Batavia to be closer to the source of the spice islands, and help regulated trade. They would then eventually become the main power on Java and take over the island completely. There they controlled the harvesting of raw materials, especially coffee, as well as other spices. -
Japan moves into self-imposed isolation
This was significant because Japan completely cuts itself off from almost every part of the world. After the banning and persecution of Christianity, outside contact is also banned. The little trade they had was with China and the Dutch, who had a settlement in Nagasaki Bay. However, Japan was not behind the rest of the world thanks to the Dutch, who kept them up to speed on the latest technology from the West. -
End of the Ming dynasty
Many factors went in to play with the decline of the Ming dynasty. Incompetent rulers were placed on the throne, corruption in officials, retreat from overseas involvement all led to their decline. There were also floods, droughts, and famine, and the peasants grew increasingly desperate and went to extreme measures such as cannibalism. Overall the internal disorder in China left them open to foreign invasion, which was significant because they would be toppled and the dynasty would give way.