Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty was a family of rulers that controlled China from 1368 to 1644. A dynasty is a line of kings or emperors from the same family. The Ming ruled for 276 years, longer than the United States has existed. During this time, China was one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world.

The dynasty began with a man named Zhu Yuanzhang. He grew up as a poor peasant. His parents died when he was young, and he spent years as a beggar and a Buddhist monk. He joined a rebel army that pushed the Mongol rulers out of China. In 1368, he became emperor and took the name Hongwu. Few rulers in history rose from such a poor start.

The Ming made Beijing their capital city. The third Ming emperor built a huge palace there called the Forbidden City. It had nearly 1,000 buildings inside thick red walls. Ordinary people were not allowed in, which is why it got that name. About 24 emperors lived there over the next 500 years. Today it is a museum, and millions of people visit it every year.

The Great Wall of China that tourists see today was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty. Earlier walls were made of dirt and crumbled easily. The Ming rebuilt the wall using stone and brick. They added watchtowers and gates. The Ming section stretches more than 5,500 miles, longer than the distance across the United States. It was meant to keep out invaders from the north.

The Ming sent out giant fleets to explore the world. Admiral Zheng He led seven huge voyages between 1405 and 1433. His ships sailed to Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and the east coast of Africa. He brought back giraffes, zebras, and gifts from foreign kings. Then suddenly, the voyages stopped. New emperors decided exploring cost too much. Historians still argue about why China gave up sea exploration just decades before Europeans began their own voyages.

The Ming Dynasty made beautiful things. Ming artists created delicate blue-and-white porcelain bowls and vases that are still famous today. A real Ming vase can sell for millions of dollars. Writers produced some of China's greatest novels during this time, including Journey to the West.

The Ming Dynasty fell apart in the 1600s. Bad weather caused crop failures. Heavy taxes made farmers angry. Rebels captured Beijing in 1644, and the last Ming emperor hanged himself in the palace garden. A new family from the north, the Qing, took control of China next.