The Ming dynasty had ruled China for over 200 years. But by 1600, bad harvests caused the people to rebel. At the same time, poor leadership weakened the dynasty’s grip on its empire.
In 1644, invaders from Manchuria, in the north, swept into China. The Manchus took control of all of China and set up the Qing dynasty. The Chinese were forced to give up many customs. However, the Manchus also adopted the values of Confucius, including the importance of good behavior. By recognizing an important part of Chinese culture, the Manchus won the people’s respect and brought peace.
