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.