Climate Change, Epidemics, Fiscal Breakdown, and the Collapse of the Great Ming

The Ming dynasty reigned for nearly three centuries, transforming China in long-lasting ways from the construction of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to the complete renovation of the Grand Canal. In 1644, the mighty Ming dynasty came to an end, coinciding with the second phase of the Little Ice Age in China. Historical records also indicate significant epidemics during the late Ming dynasty. In addition, the Single Whip Law, instituted during the middle Ming dynasty, changed the unit of tax collection from grain to silver. Although the law led to a temporary increase in European trade, in the long term, it contributed to the weakening of the Ming dynasty by destabilizing the tax system and diminishing the fiscal power of the government. Eventually, the Ming dynasty collapsed under the combined presence of climate change, epidemics, and fiscal breakdown.