AI Overview
The collapses of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties stemmed from
intertwined internal decay (corruption, weak rulers, fiscal issues) and external pressures (rebellions, Manchu invasions), significantly worsened by severe climate change during the Little Ice Age, causing famines, crop failures, and economic crises that fueled massive peasant revolts, ultimately creating power vacuums exploited by rebels and invaders, say historians. The Yuan fell due to ethnic discrimination and overtaxation, leading to the Red Turban Rebellion, while the Ming succumbed to famine, silver shortages, military strain, and Manchu conquest after peasant uprisings, notes OER Commons, YouTube, Reddit, and MDPI.
Yuan Dynasty Collapse (1271–1368)
Ethnic Discrimination: Mongols favored themselves, oppressing Han Chinese, creating resentment.
E
conomic Strain: Heavy taxes, forced labor (Yellow River projects), inflation, and crop failures.
Natural Disasters: Yellow River floods devastated agric
ulture.
Rebellion: Led to the Red Turban Rebellion, overthrowing Mongol rule.
Ming Dynasty Collapse (1368–1644)
Climate Change: The Little Ice Age brought severe cold, drought, floods, and famine.
Economic Crisis: Lack of silver (global shortage), high taxes, and treasury spending.
Political Corruption & Weakness: Ineffective rulers and power struggles.
Military Strain: Costly border wars and internal conflicts.
Peasant Uprisings: Famine-driven revolts, notably Li Zicheng's, captured Beijing.
Manchu Invasion: Manchus exploited Ming weakness, taking Beijing in 1644.
The Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) and the Yuan dynasty (1271 ...
Oct 22, 2024 — Internal Rebellion and Corruption: The Yuan dynasty faced increasing internal unrest due to ethnic divisions, heavy ta...
Medium
What led to the collapse of the Ming Dynasty? Why ... - Reddit
Nov 26, 2021 — Other modern explanations for the difficulties faced by the late Ming include a collapse of the silver supply, due to ...
Reddit
The Little Ice Age and the Fall of the Ming Dynasty: A Review - MDPI
Mar 16, 2023 — Qian Liu et al., through quantitative analyses of natural disasters and human wars of the final 35 years of the late M...
MDPI
