History Notes
China
The rise of the Ming dynasty
● China as a dynasty began in 2000 BCE (Before common era)
● China invented: Paper, printing, gunpowder, compass, irrigation systems and the
toothbrush
● The first European to visit China was Marco polo, who visited Kublai Khan in the
Yuan Dynasty.
● Ming came to power in 1368 until 1644 (300 years)
● China grew and became stronger politically, economically and culturally.
The Ming Dynasty (Don’t study the names)
● 1st emperor was a peasant who led a peasant revolt against the Yuan Dynasty
(Mongols)
● He was known as Ming Tai Zu, the “Great Ancestor of the Ming.”
● Ming’s emperors were absolute rulers who ruled through decree
● The officials who carried out these decrees were known as ‘Mandarins’ and were
chosen through a competitive examination system; therefore, they were highly
efficient.
● Taizu made widespread reforms during his time:
● Stripped wealthy families of their land and redistributed it to the pooper regions.
● Moved capital from Beijing (Dadu) to Nanjing.
Travel and trade
Overland: Western Asia and Europe formed the silk road and traded silks, porcelain, and
tea.
Sea: With Japan and around the Indian ocean (Ming pottery was found in Great Zimbabwe)
In the early 15th Century, the emperor commissioned voyages too:
● Indonesia
● Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
● India
● Arabia
● Swahili coast
Voyages helped extend Chinese power and Influence.
Gave China access to various resources, spices and exotic animals
1
,Ming Yong le commissioned the voyages.
Why?
● He seized the throne when the 1st emperor wanted his grandson to succeed.
● Yong le sent his most trusted eunuch Zheng He* (remember his name) to build a
large fleet and to also find his nephew (the Grandson)
● He also wanted to show his neighbours how powerful he was and promote trade.
● Zheng built 17 ships and commanded 37 000 men between 1405-1433
● He made seven journeys and visited numerous ports; hence his fleet was called the
treasure fleet.
What changes did Yong Le make in China?
● Moved capital back to Beijing and built the Imperial city and the forbidden city.
● Beijing is made up of 3 city’s
● The innermost city is the forbidden city
● This is where the emperor and his family lived, and this is where he could be
worshipped as the ‘son of heaven’ they believed in the Mandate of Heaven.
● Then there was the walled Imperial city
● It was for the Military and officials.
● The outer city was the commercial city.
● It was for Merchants, craftsmen and ordinary people.
Scientific and Cultural Achievements
Sophisticated Society
● Medicine, Maths and other sciences were very advanced
● Education available to both men and women of the elite class
● Used woodblock printing techniques.
● Produced an 11 000 volume encyclopedia and comprised over 370 Million Chinese
characters, Handwritten, never printed.
● This showed the extent of their knowledge; these writing were from various fields:
Art, astronomy, Buddhism, geography, medicine, drama and technology.
Revival of Chinese art
● Porcelain, landscape paintings and carved jade ornaments.
Women in Ming China
● In the 17th century, Li Yu already argued for total equality between men and women.
● The status of women varied according to class.
● Rural peasant women worked in fields alongside men.
● Urban women were employed as silk weavers and embroidered
● Upper-class women were a well-educated anthology of women's poetry that was
published in the 17th century.
● Some women even were wealthy property owners and had a social influence
● However, some women were crippled by the practice of footbinding. This was a sign
of feminine beauty with small feet often for concubines and servants.
2
,China looks inwards after 1433 Decline of the Ming.
● Threat from the Mongols who ruled china before the Ming built the great wall to
secure themselves.
● Mid-15th century voyages stopped.
● Ming was weakened by internal strife struggles for power between the court officials
(Manderians)
● Taxes were not collected because of the internal strife
● 17th century a famine occurred, which spiked to peasant revolts.
● The last Ming emperor committed suicide in 1644 Manchu Dynasty took over and
lasted until 1911.
● In 1911 the Xinhai revolution took place.
● “A revolution against the world to join the world.”
Songhay Empire
From 700 AD a series of kingdoms developed in west Africa because of the trade of salt
and gold across the Sahara desert.
Salt- Preserves meats, flavours food, resorts PH from sweat hence very popular in Sub
Saharan Africa.
Gold, Prized by the Arab world and Europe mined in West Africa
Trade roots across the desert took gold out and brought salt into Africa.
Government and Society in Songhai
Mali empire was at height of its power in the 14th century
● It was a Federation of Kingdoms (Like the USA with its states)
● Mansa=King of Mali
● The most famous Mansa was Mansa Musa
● Under his reign, the wealth of Mali spread throughout the Arab world and parts of
Europe.
● Legend: made a pilgrimage to mecca with 50 000 people and 100 camels each
camel carrying 100 pounds of Gold.
● He gave out so much gold the price of gold in that area was affected for 10 years
● Songhai was a wealthy kingdom in the Mali Empire
● In the 14th century, there was a rebellion by the Songhai but it was unsuccessful.
● After Mansa Musa’s death, the Mali empire could not maintain control and the
Songhai broke away.
● 15th century Songhai leader, Sonni Sulayman Dandi began to attack Mali Towns.
● How?
3
, ● He adapted canoe’s for war purposes to attack towns along the Niger river Supported
by Calvery on Land)
● By 1450 the Songhai stretched 2000km along the niger river
Under the rule of Sunni Ali Ber in 1464, the Songhai were at the peak of their power
● He used the Navy effectively
● Conquered Djennne the Mali Trading Centre and Timbuktu by the 1470’s
● Took control of the Niger valley for farming
● Controlled the Bure goldfields and the trade of gold.
● Market places had: Kola Nuts, Gold, Ivory, Slaves, Spices, Palm oil and Preouicous
woods that were traded for: Salt, cloth, weapons, horses and copper.
● Promoted the Trans-Saharhaen trade
● Kept peace in trading with a large standing army
Leadership
Ali was Feared by Many
Why?
● He was a Skillful Military Leader (He never Lost a Battle)
● He supported both Muslim and Traditional Songhai religion
● This won him the loyalty of those not Muslim (Peasants)
● Conversely, he was labelled as a Tyrant, Cruel, and Impious” By Muslim Scholars in
Timbuktu.
● Impouis- No respect for God or relgion
● Later a King, Askia Muhammed I, Led military Campaigns to extend the Songhai
empire.
● He created an effective System of Administration, separate ministers looked after
different sections of the government
● Local Chiefs had full authority over their own land but had to pay tribute to Songhai
and gave them control of their military.
Learning and Culture
● Arab traders brought Islam to Africa. 8th century C.E
● Many Upper-class members accepted Islam as their religion
● They then used Arab ideas and learning such as Maths, Astronomy, medicine and
science.
● Askia Muhammed I, Devout Muslim welcomed Islamic scholars to Timbuktu where he
established one of the 1st university's in the world (Sankore University)
Women in the Songhai
● Participated in many Activities
● Wealthy women were educated and control over their own property and resources
● HOWEVER, the Muslim’s were against these rights of women and started to restrict
them in the 16th and 17th century
● Poorer women were often servants
● Some women were kept as slaves for Sexual services
4
