Final answer:
The Manchu conquest of China and expansion of its borders was facilitated by the Ming dynasty's internal corruption, military defections, and strategically securing the support of Chinese officials, leading to the birth of the Qing dynasty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Manchus, originating from Manchuria and descending from the Jurchen who established the Jin dynasty, conquered China and established the Qing dynasty due to the internal weaknesses and corruption of the Ming dynasty. Following Nurhaci's death and under the leadership of his son, Hong Taiji, the Manchus adopted Chinese administrative methods and welcomed defectors, which included Chinese bureaucrats and army officers discontent with Ming rule. In 1644, with assistance from the Ming general who opened the gates of the Great Wall, the Manchus defeated Li Zicheng's rebel forces and claimed Beijing, marking the end of the Ming and the start of the Qing dynasty, which later came to be known as its golden age with significant population growth, economic prosperity, and cultural achievements.
Key Factors of the Manchu Conquest
Adoption of Chinese administration systems
Support and defection of Chinese officials
Internal Ming corruption and weakness
Military alliances and strategies
The resulting Qing dynasty oversaw a period that saw the expansion of borders, population growth, and literary achievements, with significant changes in trade policies. It was during the Qing dynasty that China addressed external threats such as the Russian expansion in Siberia, culminating in the Nerchinsk Treaty of 1689, which established borders and trade mechanisms between Russia and Qing China.