Trade and other contacts with peoples far from China stopped under the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644, was characterized by a period of isolationism, during which China withdrew from international trade and built the Great Wall to protect itself from foreign invaders. The Ming emperors believed that China was self-sufficient and did not need to engage in trade with other countries. As a result, foreign trade and contact were severely restricted, and China became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. This isolationist policy was a significant departure from the previous dynasty, the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty, which had promoted trade and cultural exchange with other parts of the world.