Ming+&+Qing

=**Political:**=
 * Ming:**

-Succeeded Yuan Dynasty -Founded by Hongwu -Revised civil service exam -Produced a deeply conservative government -Relied on two factions in the government: Mandarins & Eunuchs -Mandarins traveled throughout China and oversaw government policies -Eunuchs acted in emperor's name in court -Later Emperor Yongle moved capital to Beijing to keep closer watch on Mongols
 * Qing:**

-Clashed with Ming dynasty and slowly began to defeat Ming forces Ruled China with a strong imperial leadership until early 20th century -Manchu rulers had effective rule until they fell to luxurious living -Imposed many laws on the Chinese (such as no intermarriage of Manchu and Chinese) to make them submissive -Kangxi and his grandson Qianlong ruled so successfully that they could afford to cancel taxes 4 times during their rule =Economy:= -Agrarian state (agriculture) -Launched a series of short but expensive naval/trading expeditions in Indian Ocean (Zheng He and the treasure ships) -New food crops from abroad -Global trade produced great wealth, urban growth and population boom -Influx of silver demand from global trade

=Religion:=

-Both dynasties were of Confucian belief -Had many Confucian scholars to advise emperor

=Society:=

-Chinese traditional hierarchy and patriarchy are restored -Global trade produced great wealth, urban growth, and population boom -Chinese family was hierarchical and authoritarian -Filial piety was duty to ones family and was an essential and pervasive element of Confucianism in Chinese society -Had social classes as well as clans -boy children were potential exam candidates and could bring great honor and financial opportunity to the family -girl children were social and financial liabilities and infanticide was not uncommon -girls endured the practice of footbinding to make them more appealing to potential husbands -women become the property of their husbands family when they get married -widows encouraged to commit suicide to honor their spouse and his line

=Innovation:= -With increasing population, China had to rely on intensive garden style agriculture -Maize, sweet potatoes, and peanuts introduced by Spanish merchants on their way from the Philippines -little technological innovation in agriculture or weaponry during the Ming and Qing dynasties -Ming and Qing emperors favored political and social stability over technological innovation

=Art & Architecture:= -The biggest landmark became the Great Wall of China, which was fortified and refurbished from its deteriorating state from the Qin Dynasty -Art began to show Eastern and Western influences, a result of global trade and commerce -Style was similar in both, but the Qing refined the Ming style -Gardens became places to display advancements in art like terrain, spaces, and shapes -Imperial Palaces were kept from Ming to Qing, but more of the gardens were constructed on a large scale for them -Beijing's architecture was kept mostly the same -Tibetan Buddhist buildings became popular especially in the Qing -More diversity in individual residencies became popular -Introduced the use of glass