Global Assessment - F. The Ming Dynsaty

Forbidden City:

Palace complex in Beijing, symbolizing absolute power

Treasure Ships:

Vessels used for Ming water exploration

Missionaries:

People who spread their religious beliefs

Zheng He:

Admiral who led seven naval expeditions across the Indian Ocean

Isolattionism:

Pulling back from world affairs to focus on internal security

Eunuchs:

Appointed officials, loyal to the emperor

Mandate of Heaven:

A ruler has the right to rule only if they have the mandate of heaven given to them by the gods. If the Mandate of Heaven is lost the dynasty falls

Silver Drain:

The flow of the world’s silver in exchange for luxury goods

Jesuit:

Catholic order of missionaries active in the Ming court

Autocracy:

A government where the ruler holds absolute power

Commercialization:

The growth of a market economy where goods are produced for sale

Corvee Labor:

Unpaid Labor required by the state on public projects

Manchu:

Northern ethnic group, overthrew the Ming

Why did the Ming shift from global exploration to Isolationism?

They beloved that internal stability and defense of the Great Wall was more important than sea exploration

What was the role of the great wall in the Ming’s broader defensive strategy?

The wall was used to protect against northern invaders