By 1600, the Ming dynasty had ruled China for over 200 years. But its power was slipping. Bad harvests drove the people to rebel.
Meanwhile, poor leadership weakened the dynasty’s hold on its empire. In 1644, invaders from Manchuria, in the north, moved into China. The Manchus took control of China and set up the Qing dynasty. They made the Chinese give up many of their customs. However, the Manchus also adopted the values of Confucius, including the importance of good behavior. They accepted an important part of Chinese culture. By doing so, the Manchus won respect and brought peace.
