Jonathan Hagerman

Period 3 AP World History

C&C Essay Rise of Islamic Empires and Ming Dynasty
The Islamic Empires and the Ming Dynasty were both very influential in their respective
time periods. While they shared some characteristics, the empires each had unique features in
their coming to power. The rise of the Ming and the Islamic empires had varying reliance on
trade and differences with issues of political unity, but they had in common issues with stability
from the outset.
The Islamic Empires heavily relied on trade. Situated in a strategic location on the Silk
Road and with access to the Indian Ocean trade network, commerce became essential. Muslim
merchants went to other nations in search of wealth, and trade became the main source of income
for the Islamic Empires. The Ming, however, did not grow as much from trade. Initially, there
was interest, as shown in the voyages of Zheng He, but issues about the security of the northern
border and a focus on internal political stability caused the Ming to almost completely withdraw
from the Indian Ocean trade network. Zheng Hes voyages added a number of states to the
already-large tributary system of China, and the Ming fell back upon this for income. While silk
and porcelain were still traded by private merchants, the government made no attempt to control
and capitalize on this trade.
The two empires faced political disunity to very different levels. The Ming dynasty, as
compared to the massive Islamic Empires, was relatively small. Early efforts to recentralize the
Ming from when it was under the Yuan were effective. Confucianism was the state philosophy,
for its support of the government, and the examination system for public office was reinstituted,

leaving competent leaders in control of the government. Because of these early efforts, the Ming
remained as one. In contrast were the Islamic Empires, which faced early political fragmentation.
Spanning half the globe, its sheer size made it almost unmanageable. A dependence on
mercenaries, the Mamluks, weakened the Abbasid Caliphate and resulted in the region splitting
into different empires. While the areas of Dar al-Islam were united by religion, the people
remained under separate governments.
Although they had these differences, the Ming Dynasty and the Islamic Empires shared
early political instability. The Ming Dynasty, with many others, rebelled against the Mongols.
After they had been driven out, the Ming had to prove themselves worthy to rule China. They
had to validate their rule above the other rebel groups, and gain the Mandate of Heaven. The
Islamic Empires struggled with a different form of instability. Many times, the rightful successor
to the Caliph was disagreed upon, and a series of civil wars were fought over the succession. The
first of these divides, in deciding who would choose the successor to Muhammad, created a
divide which persists to this day that between Sunnies and Shiites. With all their differences,
early instability was a characteristic shared by both the Islamic Empires and the Ming.
The two empires, those of Islam and the Ming, had unique issues. Though they were very
different, common ground is still to be found. They had very different view on trade, and their
political unity was tested to different degrees, but they both faced difficulties early on regarding
the stability of their empires.