明朝统治中国276年，被人们描绘成人类历史上治理有序、社会稳定的最伟大的时代之一。这一时期，手工业的发展促进了市场经济和城市化。大量商品，包括酒和丝绸，都在市场销售。同时，还进口许多外国商品，如时钟和烟草。北京、南京、扬州、苏州这样的大商业中心相继形成。也是在明代，由郑和率领的船队曾到印度洋进行了七次大规模探险航行。还值得一提的是，中国文学的四大经典名著中有三部写于明代。

<p>　　The Ming Dynasty, which ruled China for 276 years, was depicted as one of the greatest periods of human history for its good governance and social stability. During this period, the thriving handicrafts industry fostered the development of market economy and urbanization. Commodities, including alcohol and silk products, were available on the market in large quantities. At the same time, clocks and tobacco products, among many other foreign goods, were imported. Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou emerged as large commercial centers one after another. It was also during the Ming Dynasty that fleets headed by Navigator Zheng He made seven large-scale, adventurous voyages to the Indian Ocean. What is also worth mentioning is that three of the Four Great Classical Novels of China were written during this period.</p>