rotect against but also to intimidate potential invaders. Ebrey (403) shows that centuries later Chinese leaders would point to the Great Wall and the ancestors who built it as a sign of Chinese invincibility. As Generalissimo Jiang (403) commented, "China cannot be conquered...Our ancestors took advantage of the mountainous terrain in constructing the Great Wall." In this sense, Ming achievements reflected Ming culture but also helped shaped the national identity and culture of China.
Another major event during the Ming period was the expansion of China's presence in foreign lands as major naval expeditions were launched by explorers like Zheng He. The arts also flourished, including writing. As E
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