Ming Dynasty Facts & Worksheets

The Ming Dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644 BC, during which China’s population doubled. Known for its trade expansion to the outside world that established cultural ties with the West, the Ming Dynasty is also known for its drama, literature, and world-renowned porcelain.

See the fact file below for more information on the Ming Dynasty, or you can download our 28-page Ming Dynasty worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

• The Yuan Dynasty controlled China before the Ming Dynasty. The Mongols, who had invaded China nearly 100 years previously, established the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongols were disliked and viewed as enemies by many Chinese. A peasant revolt ultimately succeeded in ousting the Mongols from China and forcing them to flee.
• Zhu Yuanzhang was in charge of the peasant rebellion that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty and the Mongols. Emperor Hongwu was his new title after seizing power in China. The Ming Dynasty had just started when this occurred.

GOVERNMENT UNDER THE MING DYNASTY

• A group known as the civil service was in charge of running the government. 
• Candidates had to pass challenging tests in order to be hired by the civil service. The top employment positions would go to the males who scored the highest.
• Exams frequently included a variety of topics, but a large component of the assessment focused on Confucius’s philosophical ideas.
• Some men would devote years to their studies in an effort to ace the tests and land one of these coveted posts.
• 16 emperors ruled the Ming Dynasty. Here are six of the more notable Ming Dynasty emperors:
• Emperor Hongwu (reigned 1368–1398): As the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he inaugurated the dynasty’s golden period.
• Emperor Yongle (reigned 1402–1424): Emperor Yongle, the third Ming emperor, continued the Ming Dynasty’s golden period during his second and most lauded reign.
• Emperor Xuande (reigned 1425–1435): The third most renowned reign of the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty continued the good times from Yongle.
• Emperor Yingzong, who reigned from 1435 to 1449 and again from 1457 to 1464, was enthroned twice after being kidnapped by the Mongols and then freed. During his rule, the Ming Dynasty started to wane.
• Emperor Zhengde (reigned from 1572-1620) had the longest reign (48 years) in the Ming Dynasty.
• Emperor Chongzhen (reigned from 1627–1644) and was the final ruler of the Ming Dynasty.
• The Ming Tombs, which are located close to Beijing, include the remains of 13 of the 16 Ming Dynasty rulers. It is the biggest complex of imperial tombs in both China and the whole world.

MING DYNASTY LAW

• In 1206, nomadic Mongols founded the Yuan dynasty. The rebel commander Hongwu battled against Yuan’s rule in the 1350s. In 1368, he and his army of peasants succeeded in toppling the Yuan dynasty. Later, Hongwu established the Ming dynasty.
• His administrative, military, and educational reforms centralized authority around the emperor. 
• He established the dynasty as one of China’s most reliable. But he had absolute power to reign.
• The Ming entrusted the management of state affairs to the educated class. Hongwu, therefore, made improvements to the civil service system. 
• For entry into office, nearly all of the senior officials had to pass a government test. At the same time, Hongwu employed a number of strategies to curtail their influence and status.
• He established a system of public flogging as a penalty in court. He frequently beat scholar-officials to death for the slightest infraction.
• Additionally, Hongwu eliminated the role of prime minister. 
• Instead, he assumed personal control of the administration. 
• He was supported in his authority by a group of obedient individuals known as the Grand Secretariat.

MING DYNASTY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Architecture: Large civil engineering projects were undertaken during this time, such as:
• The Great Wall of China: During the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was nearly entirely rebuilt. The Ming constructed the lofty, broad brick walls that are still in place today. 
• The Grand Canal: During this time, the Grand Canal was restored. Trade was significantly impacted by this, which boosted the economy.
• The Forbidden City, which lay inside Beijing’s capital city, housed the emperor’s palace. Over 185 acres of land were covered by over 1000 structures.
• Arts and culture: During the Ming Dynasty, art thrived. Literature, art, music, poetry, and porcelain were all featured. At the time, blue and white porcelain Ming vases were highly appreciated all over the world. They are still regarded as being quite precious.
• The Golden Age of Blue and White Porcelain: Emperor Yongle (1402-24) and Emperor Xuande (1425–35) reigned during the peak of blue and white porcelain production. The material foundation for such designs was the distinctive blue paint that Zheng He brought back from ancient Persia on his journeys to the west.
• Western Asia also had an impact on the shape and decoration of porcelain throughout this period as a result of commerce and frequent cultural interactions.
• Vernacular Fiction Proliferated: The four major classics of the Ming Dynasty—Journey to the West, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and the Golden Lotus—were all born out of the popularity of popular vernacular literature.
• The Westward Journey of Zheng He: Emperor Yongle erected a sizable navy and appointed Zheng He (1371–1433), a Muslim eunuch, as its commander. The fleet was dispatched on trading missions to the West and excursions to collect tribute.

KEY EVENTS IN THE MING DYNASTY TIMELINE

• By defeating the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty in a revolt in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu) created the Ming Dynasty and proclaimed Nanjing the capital of China.
• Zhu Yuanzhang perished in 1398. Emperor Jianwen, his grandson, ascended the throne.
• Zhu Di, Zhu Yuanzhang’s son, sought the throne in 1399.
• Emperor Yongle Zhu Di succeeded in ascending the throne in 1402. A prosperous era marked by commerce with Europeans was inaugurated by Emperor Yongle.
• Emperor Yongle issued the instructions to begin construction on the Forbidden City in the year 1406.
• After the Forbidden City was finished in 1420, the Ming capital was transferred to Beijing.
• The Ming Dynasty was conquered by the Mongols in 1449, and Emperor Yingzong was taken, prisoner. The Ming Dynasty started to deteriorate from a time of affluence.
• The Qing Dynasty began in 1644 when peasant insurrection from the south forced the opening of the Great Wall’s gates to the Manchurians. This marked the end of the Ming Dynasty.

THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY

• The late Ming Dynasty was rife with corruption. The wealthy took control of the peasants’ land and exploited their privileges to evade paying taxes to the government. The peasantry was then subject to high taxes. A famine resulted from crop failures brought on by unusually cold weather.
• The government persisted in oppressing the populace despite its lack of ability to address the issue of poverty. Li Zicheng (1606–1645), a peasant soldier, conducted a coup and mutiny. In addition to being threatened by the rebel army, the Manchu army frequently threatened to invade the Ming Dynasty.
• The Forbidden City was invaded by Li Zicheng’s forces in 1644. The Ming Dynasty was overthrown when the final Ming emperor hanged himself in a tree. 
• But this triumph was not celebrated by the rebel forces. The Manchus took advantage of the situation, scaled the Great Wall, vanquished Li Zicheng, and took control of Beijing. The Qing Dynasty was subsequently formed.

Ming Dynasty Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Ming Dynasty across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Ming Dynasty, known for its trade expansion to the outside world that established cultural ties with the West, the Ming Dynasty is also known for its drama, literature, and world-renowned porcelain.

Download includes the following worksheets.

1. Ming Dynasty Facts
2. Find the Missing Words
3. Mark in Your Memory
4. Ancient Buildings
5. Ming Emperors
6. Tracking History
7. The Fall
8. Spot the Difference
9. Fact Or Bluff?
10. The Great Wall of China
11. Let’s Watch & Sum It Up

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Ming Dynasty established?

The Ming Dynasty was established in 1368 after the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.

Who was the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty?

The first emperor of the Ming Dynasty was Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang), who ruled from 1368 to 1398.

What was the capital of the Ming Dynasty?

The capital of the Ming Dynasty was located in Nanjing, but later it was moved to Beijing.

What was the major accomplishment of the Ming Dynasty?

The major accomplishments of the Ming Dynasty include a strong central government, a well-developed economy, cultural and artistic advancements, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

What was the reason for the fall of the Ming Dynasty?

The fall of the Ming Dynasty was due to a combination of factors, including peasant uprisings, economic decline, corruption, and military defeat. The Manchu-led Qing Dynasty eventually took over and established the last imperial dynasty in China.

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