The First Manchu Invasion refers to the initial military campaigns by the Manchu people against the Ming Dynasty in the early 17th century. Beginning in 1618, the Manchu sought to expand their territory and influence, leading to a series of conflicts that ultimately weakened the Ming's control over China. The invasion culminated in the fall of Beijing in 1644, marking the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, which was established by the Manchu. This transition significantly altered China's political landscape and initiated a new era of rule that lasted for nearly three centuries.