Ming Dynasty

1. Social structure And Family life

1.1. In china at the time there were four classes of wealth and nobility the highest was the called the Shi

1.2. women had housekeeping jobs while most men went to be a scholar or into the army

1.3. Most scholars were ranked higher in society, farmers were treated usually with disrespect they were one of the lowest ranking groups

1.4. merchants were respected and treated with great hospitality and it was not uncommon to allow a merchant to have dinner with your family in this era

2. Geography and Agriculture

2.1. Old china had desserts north and west, pacific to east and at the time impassable mountains

2.2. China also had many rivers and big rivers like the yellow river

2.3. Ming dynasty had big commercial plantations and having big rivers helped

2.4. China's mains source of plantation was rice but also certain types of beans

3. Economy and trade

3.1. Trade was extremely vital for ming dynasty particularly with africa and europe

3.2. Since trade was extremely vital for china their naval army called treasure ships helped trading and stealing from countries

3.3. New market economy during the Ming era led to farmers being able to buy large plots of land for cash crops

3.4. Ming dynasty produced the most iron into their manufacturing, more than other place in the world at this time

4. Arts and Education

4.1. The Ming dynasty was known for their pottery and classic Chinese style paintings

4.2. Ming dynasty was also known for their arts and crafts like origami and wood workings

4.3. Ming dynasty had an education system that taught most classes of citizen (except the bottom of the social ladder) called the imperial examination system

4.4. Ming dynasty also taught propaganda and how subjects and rulers should behave in society

5. Government and military

5.1. Soldiers were chosen by birth in the Ming dynasty

5.2. Soldiers were lightly equipped and sent on horse or with bow and arrow usually

5.3. Hung-wu one of the first emperors restored central bureaucracy(the politics that the Ming Dynasty followed)

5.4. The ming dynasty ruled china through six major ministries and they all ruled different politics and laws

6. Religion

6.1. Ming dynasty two main religions were Taoism and Buddhism

6.2. Most Chinese followed Buddhas teachings during this time period or studied scripture about nature

6.3. A third religion they often believed was Confucianism( karma- If you do good in your life you are rewarded with a good life and good after life)

6.4. Christianity also was present in china during the Ming era but it was not as common nor taught very well

7. Science and Technology

7.1. The Ming dynasty made the Yongle Encyclopedia which was one of the first general topic encyclopedia

7.2. The bristle tooth brush was made under the Ming dynasty, the first oral care product invented

7.3. Huge buildings were able to be built during the Ming dynasty era like for example the great wall of china

7.4. Ming dynasty made an early version of the gun called The Huochong Gun (did not rely on gun powder)