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The Yuan and Ming DynastiesChapter 7.4
The Mongol Empire• Northern China, throughout history
had been attacked by nomadic people over and over.
• One of the groups of nomads were the Mongols.
• For centuries, these Mongol tribes lived separately in regions of North China.
• In 1206, a powerful leader, or khan, united the Mongols. His name was Temujin.
• When Temujin became leader, he was given a new title: “Universal Leader” or Genghis Khan.
Ghenghis Khan and his Mongol Empire
• For 20 years, Genghis Khan and his powerful army of Mongols terrorized people throughout much of Asia and Eastern Europe.
• In 1211, the Mongols attacked China, wrecking whole towns and farmlands.
• By the time he died in 1227, all Northern China was under Mongol control.
The Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368(China ruled by the Mongols)
• In 1260, Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan became ruler of the Mongol Empire.
• In 1279, he overthrew China and declared himself the emperor of China and this began the Yuan (yoo-EN) dynasty.
• For the first time in in China’s history, it was ruled by foreigners.
• These Mongols spoke different languages, worshipped different gods, wore different clothes, and celebrated different customs.
• The Chinese resented this and saw it as rude and uncivilized.
Kublai Khan
During the Yuan dynasty:• The Chinese were not forced to accept the
way of the Mongols , but some Mongols adopted Chinese culture (like Confucianism).
• The Chinese were not allowed to gain too much power.
• The Mongols placed a special tax on the Chinese. This money was used on public-works projects like • The Grand Canal• Roads• Palaces
• They welcomed sea trade with India and Southeast Asia.
• Marco Polo , an Italian merchant sailor, traveled in and around China between 1271-1295.
• He was welcomed and well respected by the Mongol government. He even served in Kublia Khan’s court. He wrote a book that sparked much European interest in China.
Marco Polo and Kublai Khan’s Court
Fall of the Yuan Dynasty
• The Mongols wanted more land.• In 1274 and 1281- they decided
to invade Japan – but the campaigns were disastrous.
• Met with violent storms and fierce defenders and this destroyed the Mongol force.
• The Mongols were financially weak from huge public works projects.
• In 1368, a former monk named Zhu Yuanzhang, took charge of the rebel army and led them in a victorious battle that overthrew the Mongols.
• Finally, China was once again ruled by the Chinese and led way for the final dynasty…the Ming dynasty.
3 reasons Yuan dynasty fell1. Failed campaigns at sea weakened the military.2. Huge public-work projects weakened economy.3. Build up of Chinese resentment
The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
One of the most stable and prosperous times in China’s history.
They were known for:• Great sea voyages• Great building projects
Great Sea Voyages• Improved their ships and sailing
skills• Greatest sailor of this period was
Zheng He (juhng HUH)• 1405-1433 he led 7 voyages around
Asia.• One voyage included more than 60
ships and 25,000 sailors. Some ships were larger than 300 feet long (1 football field!)
• These voyages rank among the most impressive in the seafaring history.
• His voyages served as a clear sign of China’s power.
Great Building Projectsto impress Chinese and enemies to the North
• Forbidden City– A 9,000 room palace with hundreds of
imperial residences, temples, and other government buildings
– “Forbidden” to the common people.
• Restoration of Great Wall– 12 ft. wide, 25 ft. tall and
2,000 miles long (distance from San Diego to NY)
Under the Ming Dynasty
• China withdrew from other foreign influences
• Censors were used to monitor behavior and quality of education
• In 1430’s a new emperor ban all Zheng’s fleets and Chinese from foreign travel and trade
• Entered a time of Isolationism
• Isolationism was a policy of avoiding contact with other countries.
• This ended up hurting China in the long run.
• China was unaware of what technology growth in other parts of the world and this affected their ability to “stay up with the times”.
• By 1644 China was overthrown again because they were too weak to stop it.