User:Hemlock Martinis/Ming sandbox

Foreign relations of the Ming Dynasty
Foreign relations during the Ming Dynasty played a larger role in the affairs of China than they had in previous dynasties. The early Ming emperors sent expeditions by sea to foreign nations, notably under Admiral Zheng He and his navy. Ming armies clashed with Mongolian forces in the northern parts of the empire for decades; when an offensive approach could no longer be supported financially, money instead poured into reconstructing the Great Wall.

Policies towards foreign nations varied between the early Ming emperors: the first, the Hongwu Emperor tried to isolate China from foreign influence, while his son the Yongle Emperor sponsored Zheng He's expeditions to Indochina, India and the Arabian Peninsula.

Economy of the Ming Dynasty
The fiscal administration was set up by the Hongwu Emperor and was effective enough to remain in place until the 20th century. After the death of the Xuande Emperor, the Ming lessened trade with foreign nations in favor of a tributary system.