China Yuan Dynasty4

Mongols: Yuan Dynasty

Mongols under Genghis Khan Dominate Eurasia• Powerful, mounted military• Aggressive military and political policies

• Establish Yuan Dynasty in China in 1280 AD– Dominate surrounding nations– Take on Chinese dress and habits quickly

Mongols: Yuan Dynasty

Establish Yuan Dynasty in China in 1280 AD under Kublai Khan – Dominate surrounding nations– Take on Chinese dress and habits quickly

Yuan Dynasty

• Extend China’s power over neighboring nations

• Unable to convince Chinese population of their legitimacy, or Mandate of Heaven

• Always “Barbarians”

Mongol Identity• Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor

• But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture

• Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common

Limited Power• Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power

• Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts

• Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office

Separation • Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged

• Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese

• Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military

Kublai Khan Rules China

• Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes

• Large part of taxes supported public-works projects

• Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal

• Improvements made shipping rice, other goods from southern China to northern China easier, more reliable

• Mongols posted soldiers throughout China to keep peace

• Feared rebellions, particularly in south where many Chinese remained loyal to Song dynasty

Peace • Foreign trade increased

• Pax Mongolica made land travel safer for merchants

• Sea trade improved; foreign merchants welcomed to China’s ports

Foreign Trade

Taxes to Trade

Some scholars question whether Polo reached China or just related stories he heard in his travels, but his tales increased interest in China.

As a result of Kublai Khan’s foreign trade policies, many merchants, travelers and missionaries came to China. Most were from Southwest Asia and India. However a few came from Europe as well. One of the most famous of these Europeans was Marco Polo.

• Marco Polo, Italian trader visited Yuan court

• Kublai Kahn sent Polo on several missions; traveled in, around China for 17 years

• 1295, Polo imprisoned in Venice, recounted tales to fellow prisoner

Marco Polo in China

Europeans to China

• Polo’s tales published as book

• Book fascinated many Europeans

• Polo described grand palace, with walls covered in silver, gold

• Noted efficiency of postal system, use of paper money

• Awed by size, splendor of cities

Accounts of China

Yuan Dynasty and the Arts

• Cultivated Chinese art and Philosophy to try and build legitimacy

Yuan Dynasty:Relations with Korea and Japan

• Mongol drive for dominance continues past China

• Koryo Dynasty in Korea surrenders and swears allegiance to Yuan Dynasty

• Japan refuses to recognize Yuan as their tributary leader

Yuan Dynasty:Relations with Korea and Japan

Yuan dynasty invades Japan 1274 AD• Korean built ships, Korean sailors• Invasion repulsed by Japan

• 2nd Attempt at invasion in 1281 AD

• Much larger armada• Mongol marines• Invasion appears to be succeeding

Yuan Dynasty and Japan

Japan: the islands of the gods or “kami” • Last minute rescue by the gods• Typhoon blows up and sinks the

Mongol/Korean armada• Winds are “kaze” in Japanese

• Japan saved by divine winds or: “Kamikaze”

Yuan’s Demise

• Unable to achieve legitimacy, the Yuan dynasty struggles to maintain control in China

• Major drought creates gigantic dust bowl in the Chinese plains

• Famine spurs revolt