In order to consolidate the centralized government of his new empire the Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang abrogated the position of the prime minister and wielded directly the administrative and military powers. Compared with the preceding dynasties, agriculture was more developed in the Ming Dynasty. Improvement was seen in the trades of silk reeling and weaving and in ceramics manufacturing, as well as in the trades of iron mining, copper casting, papermaking, shipbuilding, etc., Economic and Cultural exchanges with foreign countries developed.

　　Zheng He, a great navigator, headed his big expeditionary fleets, sailing
 southward and westward across the South China Sea and the India Ocean, and leaving footprints on more than 30 countries and areas in Asia and Africa. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty, however, China was harassed by Japan , Spain , Portugal , and the Netherlands .

　　In culture , science and technology , achievements were highlighted by novels including the “Water Margin” , the “Romance of Three Kingdoms”, the “Pilgrimage to the West”, the “Romance of Three Ladies” ; dramas including the “Peony Pavilion” ; geographical works including the “Xu Xiake Travel Notes” ; medicinal works including the “Pharmacopoeia of Medicine Herbs” ; agronomical works including the “Complete Collection of Agriculture”; works on crafts including the “Craft Wonders” ; and the Complete Library of “Yongle” . On the other hand, the stereotyped Eight-Part Essay adopted in the service examination bound conspicuously the individuals’ talent.