* In 1352, Zhu joined one of the many insurgent forces that had risen in rebellion against the Mongol-ruled Yuan Dynasty.
* He rose rapidly through the ranks and became a commander.
* In 1356, Zhu Yuanzhang's army conquered Nanjing, which became his base of operations and the official capital of the Ming Dynasty during his reign.
* Zhu's government in Nanjing became famous for good governance and the city attracted vast numbers of people fleeing from other more lawless regions.
* Zhu proclaimed himself Emperor of China in 1368. His capital city remained in Nanjing and "Hongwu" was adopted as his regal title.
* Hongwu redid the traditional Confucian examination system. The potential state officials were selected from, based on merit and their knowledge of literature and philosophy.
* Hongwu established two systems: Yellow Records and Fish Scale Records. The systems served to secure both the government's income from land taxes and affirm that peasants would not lose their lands.
* He kept a powerful army and re-organized using a model known as the Wèisuǒ system. (Each military unit consisted of 5,600 men divided into five battalions and ten companies)
* Hongwu ordered the construction of several mosques in Nanjing, Yunnan, Guangdong and Fujian, and had inscriptions praising Muhammed placed in mosques.
* He rebuilt the Jinjue Mosque in Nanjing
* Large numbers of Hui people moved to the city during his rule.
Rachel Wesley
September 29, 2012
AP World
Period 4
Yongle Emperor Brag Sheet
* Third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China, reigning from 1402 to 1424.
* He moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing
* Constructed the Forbidden City there between 1406 and 1420.
* Grand Canal of China was repaired and reopened in order to supply the new capital of Beijing with a steady flow of goods and southern food supplies.
* Commissioned most of