Míng

The Ming was a Chinese imperial dynasty founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Red Turban rebel. Before its rise, Zhu captured Nanjing in 1356.

In 1368 Zhu proclaimed the dynasty and drove the Yuan court from Dadu. His son Zhu Di seized the throne in 1402 as the Yongle Emperor, built Beijing’s Forbidden City and sent Zheng He across the Indian Ocean. Li Zicheng’s rebels captured Beijing in 1644; Ming princes continued resistance to the Qing in southern China until 1662.