MING

G: The Ming Dynasty took over after the collapse of the mongol led Yuan dynasty. They occupied roughly the same area in China. The capital was Nanjing with Beijing as a secondary capital. Beijing eventually became the sole capital in 1403. One important geographic feature was the Grand Canal, the longest artificial river in the world that was restored by the Yongle Emperor between 1411 and 1415. this canal increased economic prosperity and made Beijing a metropolitan capital. 

The Ming Dynasty

The Grand Canal 

R: The three main religions of the Ming Dynasty were Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. While all of these religions were mostly tolerated, government officials generally preferred Taoist teachings. Islam was also popular in parts of China, but Muslims were quickly assimilated into Chinese culture and became indistinguishable from the average Chinese citizen. Christian missionaries were outlawed by the Hongwu Emperor in 1368. However, the Ming Dynasty saw a second wave of Jesuit missionaries, led by Mateo Ricci, around 1583.

A: Arts during the Ming Dynasty thrived. Three distinct painting styles came into existence:

Che: 

Sung:

Eccentric: 

S: The Ming rulers encouraged the development of agriculture by reducing conscription and taxes. Government encouraged peasants to reclaim wasteland and promoted the cultivation of cash crops, such as cotton and others water conservancy projects were constructed in all parts of the country. The area of farmland was much larger than further dynasty. Rice was grown very widely in southern part of China. Corn, sweet potato, peanut and tobacco were introduced in south, and extend north. Land and population control was accomplished through the use of the "Yellow and Fish-scale registers", which effected in enhancing productivity. After the mid-Ming period, social production achieved further increase, while the Yellow Register got corrupted. The new "single whip method" of taxation, advocated by Zhang Juzheng and his followers, was introduced to aid economic development.

P: The Ming abolished the Branch Secretariats and replaced them with three offices - the Administrative Commissioner's Office, the Judicial Commissioner's Office, and the Military Commissioner's Office in local. These three offices were independent each other. In 1380, the Central Secretariat and the Office of Prime Minister were abolished in central government. All the significant state affairs were handled by the emperor. The Chief Military Commission was restructured into five Military Commands - Central, Front, Rear, Left and Right, which were in charge of the troops in the capital and those of each dusi as well.

http://www.chinatravelrus.com/profile/history/ming-dynasty.html

E: Despite starting out with paper money, silver became the primary means of currency in Ming China. The demand for silver was so high that most of the output from Peruvian mines went straight to China. 

D: Historians often argue over the legitimacy of Ming census numbers. The numbers are strangely skewed toward men. By 1502, they counted 378,167 men and 226,982 women. Some theorize that this is due to a practice of female infanticide, although numbers this dramatic cannot be attributed to that alone.

I:  One important Ming Philosopher is Wang Yangming, who is one of the foremost Neo Confucian thinkers. Some of his trademarks are the ideas of innate knowledge (people know the difference between good and evil from birth), the unification of knowledge and action, and the mind giving reason to the world 

http://www.iep.utm.edu/wangyang/

T: Ming's development of technology was slow compared to the pace of the West and the Song Dynasty. Most of their innovations came from Western ideas.

Ashoka's Empire

G: Ashoka’s empire stretched from the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan to present-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of Assam in the east, and as far south as northern Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/worldlit2e/full/maps/ashoka.htm

R: Although originally a violent ruler bent on conquest, Ashoka revised his foreign and domestic policies to be in line with the Buddhist teachings of peace of coexistence.

 http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/india3.ht

A: Most of the art made during Ashoka's reign was related to his Buddhist teachings. Early art did not show Buddha directly, but instead used a variety of symbols to represent him 

 Sandstone footprints of Buddha from 1st Century BCE 

Pillar Edict of Emperor Ashoka around 238 BCE

http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/mauryans/mauryans.html

S: Ashoka attempted to unite his immense empire using The Moral Order of the Dharma. But, many social barriers, such as diversity in religion and ethnicities, made it difficult to unite people. 

http://www.porchlight.ca/~blackdog/ashoka.htm

P: As emperor, Ashoka held most of the power over the government. He appointed royal officers that made sure all people were following the word of the Dhamma.

E:  

Mauryan punchmark coins used from 300- 100 BCE. 

D: While no exact number is known, scholars estimate that the empire had 30 million people in 250 BCE. 

http://www.historum.com/ancient-history/29975-most-populous-ancient-empires.html

I: Ashoka's Edicts formed the basis for much of India's intellectual developments. Large pillars were engraved with humanistic philosophies on life that had their roots in Buddhism. 

Here is a video that details how one of the pillars was made, transported, and what it means. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siWJQKmfkX0

T: Ashoka's empire did not develop any new technologies, but they utilized boats, new medicines, and herbal health treatments. 

JOCHI

Hello, and welcome to my blog. My name is Jochi. I am the eldest son of Genghis Khan. Some scholars doubt if he is really my father because my mother, Borte, was kidnapped by Chilger Bokh shortly after her marriage. This possibility of illegitimacy caused estrangement between my father and I. Despite this, I became well known as a military leader and a key force in the expansion of the empire. In 1207, I conquered the forest people of Siberia, which marked the first time the empire extended it's northern border. I led two missions against the Kyrgz in 1210 and 1218. Additionally, I was put in hcarge of hunting expeditions that helped to train the army. I was also remembered as being kinder and more peaceful than my father. I once pleaded with my father to not execute the son of an enemy chief because his archery skills would be an asset to the army. When I tried to peacefully negotiate with the Khwarezmian capital of Urgench, my brother, Chagatai deemed it unwise. I wanted to keep the town in tact because Genghis promised that I would have it under his control. But, Chagati wanted to destroy the town. This was another added strain on our relationship and the question of who would succeed Genghis. At a kurultai held in 1222, neither Chagatai nor I was given the empire. Because of our quarreling, our brother, Ogedai, was chosen as successor. I was so shaken by this choice that I retreated north of the Aral and Caspian Seas and remained there until my death in 1227, six months before my father. My family was entrusted with the westernmost part of the empire, between the Ural and Irtish rivers.