The Rise and Fall of the Ming Dynasty

He also ably safeguarded the country against further Mongol incursions . He is famous for his reorganization of the administration of China . He set up colleges for training of civil servants . It was mandatory for these mandarins (civil servants ) to pass literature and philosophy examinations to secure their posts (Kingfisher Books , 180

Hong Wu left his throne to a grandson , Jianwen , but he was overthrown four years later by his uncle Zhu Di , who became Emperor Yongle in 1403 Yogle is considered to be the true architect of modern Beijing and raised

many of the great landmarks of the city such as the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City , which was the magnificent imperial complex at the heart of Beijing in which only the emperor , his family and associates were allowed to enter (Harper 46 . For over twenty years under the rule of Yongle , between 1403 to 1424 , China reached new heights . Yongle shifted the capital to Beijing roads , towns and canals were rebuilt . Learning and arts thrived . China stretched and reached outward by exporting goods and spreading its influence in other ways

The Ming dynasty is today well-known for the production of fine porcelain and for the distant sea voyages undertaken by the Chinese during the early part of the Ming period . China sent ships to South and Southeast Asia and carried on trade with areas far away in African and Arabia . The most significant achievement of the Ming , however , was the agricultural revolution which resulted in dramatic increases in food production and population . The Ming administration also introduced mandatory service by citizens to the state and created a two-million-man standing army for defense and domestic control

However , the Ming phase of decline began soon enough . In the late 1500s there was a succession of emperors who were wasteful...