Which Chinese dynasty ruled from 1368 to 1644?

Which Chinese dynasty ruled from 1368 to 1644? The answer is the Ming dynasty. It was established after the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and ended when rebel forces captured Beijing in 1644.

The dynasty’s founder was Zhu Yuanzhang, a former rebel leader who became the Hongwu Emperor. The Ming restored Han Chinese rule and built a powerful centralized empire. Nanjing served as the first capital, while the Yongle Emperor later made Beijing the principal capital and commissioned the Forbidden City.

Ming China was known for porcelain, silk production, large cities, maritime commerce, and the seven voyages led by the admiral Zheng He. In the 16th century, American crops such as maize, potatoes, and chili peppers entered China through global trade, while imported silver became crucial to the economy.

The dynasty fell amid rebellion, fiscal strain, famine, epidemics, and political weakness. Although Beijing fell in 1644, Ming loyalist regimes survived in southern China until 1662. The Song ended in 1279, the Yuan in 1368, and the Qing began after the Ming collapse.