The Yongle Emperor's reign saw significant growth in China's leadership, infrastructure, and global presence. After the Yuan Dynasty fell to infighting and natural disasters, Zhu Di took the throne by force in 1402. While he was initially denounced by a prominent court tutor, he quickly took control as the Yongle Emperor and began to rebuild China after a period of significant rebellion and unrest. His most notable endeavors were transferring the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, constructing the Forbidden City and Porcelain Pagoda, revitalizing the Grand Canal System, and commissioning Zheng He's 7 explorations. His reign connected China to several global empires, and expanded China's reputation as an economic entity.

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