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Dan Snow's History Hit · September 21, 2026 · 55:56

The Rise and Fall of the Ming Dynasty

Jeremiah
Show Notes

Dan Snow travels to Beijing to explore how an impoverished peasant founded the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China for nearly three centuries, and how war, political crisis, rebellion and environmental catastrophe eventually brought it down. At its height, Ming China was one of the most powerful states on Earth, with treasure fleets reaching East Africa and the Forbidden City symbolising imperial authority. The episode traces the dynasty's arc from prosperity to collapse.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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A peasant founded a dynasty that lasted nearly three centuries
An impoverished peasant overthrew the Mongol Yuan and established the Ming Dynasty, which would rule China for almost 300 years.
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Ming China was a global superpower at its height
At its peak, Ming China was one of the most powerful states on Earth, with bustling cities of merchants and scholars and goods that travelled across continents.
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