Political
Ming Dynasty: (1368-1644)
The Ming dynasty began in 1368 when an army led by a peasant, Hongjinjun, rebelled against the Mongols. The Ming dynasty was mostly noted due to its strong naval military. Among these naval fleets was Zheng He, who was celebrated due to his vast, yet almost meaningless voyages across the Indian Ocean. Ever after the rise of the Tang dynasty, the Chinese government has enforced examination for qualification in order to become a government worker. The Ming dynasty was ruled by Hongwu and Chongzhen.
Qing Dynasty: (1644-1912)
The Eight-Banner System was created by Nurhachi, the founder of the Qing dynasty. It was almost like feudalism, except the daimyos were directly related to the emperor by blood. In addition, a strong military was created by the Eight-Banner System because each of the eight split regions of the Qing dynasty.
http://dickiebo-aneverwas.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-military-and-political-system-in.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/ming.htm
The Ming dynasty began in 1368 when an army led by a peasant, Hongjinjun, rebelled against the Mongols. The Ming dynasty was mostly noted due to its strong naval military. Among these naval fleets was Zheng He, who was celebrated due to his vast, yet almost meaningless voyages across the Indian Ocean. Ever after the rise of the Tang dynasty, the Chinese government has enforced examination for qualification in order to become a government worker. The Ming dynasty was ruled by Hongwu and Chongzhen.
Qing Dynasty: (1644-1912)
The Eight-Banner System was created by Nurhachi, the founder of the Qing dynasty. It was almost like feudalism, except the daimyos were directly related to the emperor by blood. In addition, a strong military was created by the Eight-Banner System because each of the eight split regions of the Qing dynasty.
http://dickiebo-aneverwas.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-military-and-political-system-in.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/ming.htm
Economy
The Ming dynasty was considered one of the three golden ages in China. Due to the Trans-Atlantic trade in the other side of the world, Chinese goods became a keen interest in European eyes. As a result, China started to use silver as a means of monetary exchange. During the Ming dynasty, corvee labor was abolished and all workers in China started to get paid. During this period, the term "minimum wage" was coined.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/ming.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/ming.htm
Religion
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Daoism and Buddhism were the predominant religions in China. Daoism was prominent mostly in the northwest, while Buddhism was prominent in the east. Both Daoism and Buddhism influenced the methods of thinking of present-day Chinese people. However, these two religions were not the only religions in China. During these two dynasties, Christianity reached China. Some converted voluntarily, while others converted reluctantly. After the 18th century, Christianity became a dominant religion in China.
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-religion/
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-religion/
Society
The social class of China during this period was divided in to four groups: the Shi, Nong, Gong, and Shang.
Shi: Originally made up of warriors, the Shi eventually became aristocrats and scholars that worked for the government.
Nong: The Nong were composed of peasants and farmers. They produced food and were regarded as third most important in the social class.
Gong: The Gong were composed of artisans and craftsmen. Before the Ming dynasty, the Gong were not paid and were forced in to corvee labor. The Gong at one point were the producers of the most profit in China.
Shang: The Shang were composed of merchants and traders. The Shang were considered useless and were the lowest in the social class because they had no skills.
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-social-structure/
Shi: Originally made up of warriors, the Shi eventually became aristocrats and scholars that worked for the government.
Nong: The Nong were composed of peasants and farmers. They produced food and were regarded as third most important in the social class.
Gong: The Gong were composed of artisans and craftsmen. Before the Ming dynasty, the Gong were not paid and were forced in to corvee labor. The Gong at one point were the producers of the most profit in China.
Shang: The Shang were composed of merchants and traders. The Shang were considered useless and were the lowest in the social class because they had no skills.
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-social-structure/
Innovations
Although coining and printing were invented in the previous dynasty, the Yuan dynasty, the use of silver as a means of monetary exchange was introduced in the Ming dynasty. Also, the first and closest ancestor to the present-day toothbrush was introduced in the Ming dynasty. It was not mass produced until after the 18th century. Naval exploration became prominent in the Ming dynasty because of the invention of ship rudders, which eased overseas transportation.
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-inventions/
http://totallyhistory.com/ming-dynasty-inventions/
Arts and Architecture
The creation of porcelain and art on porcelain became the main source of income in China for a while, to the point that it created an economic drain in China. In addition, landscape portraits became prominent in China due to the resurgence of Daoism. Calligraphy was one of the sections in the aristocracy examination in the political system in China. During the Qing dynasty, the qualities of human portraits increased drastically.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/719162/Chinese-architecture/283459/The-Qing-dynasty-1644-191112
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/719162/Chinese-architecture/283459/The-Qing-dynasty-1644-191112
Near Geography
North: Mongolia, Gobi Desert, Siberia.
West: Middle East, Turkey, and Tibet.
South: Himalaya Mountain Range, India, Nepal.
East: Manchu, Korea, Japan, Pacific Ocean.
West: Middle East, Turkey, and Tibet.
South: Himalaya Mountain Range, India, Nepal.
East: Manchu, Korea, Japan, Pacific Ocean.