Climbing the Ranks in the Chaotic Late Ming Dynasty

The Ming dynasty fell because Chinese history had reached the dawn of the heavy-industrial age. Glaciers and weathering in high-latitude regions acted like centrifuges, purifying the iron ore of the Northeast. Once the Manchus acquired Kong Youde’s firearm-manufacturing techniques, they used high-quality ore to make weapons superior to those of the Ming army, gradually gaining the military advantage. Neither Li Zicheng nor Zhang Xianzhong, who fought for control of the Central Plains, could have had a chance to claim the throne in the heavy-industrial age. Asked who the hero of the age was, the answer was nobody. Reader group: 172073109