Empire of the Great KhanEmpire of the Great KhanChapter 12 sect. 3Pages 299 - 302

Main Idea & Why it Matters Main Idea & Why it Matters NowNowKublai Khan rule

China and encouraged foreign trade, but Yuan Dynasty was beset by problems.

The influence of Chinese ideas on Western civilization began with the Mongols’ encouragement of trade.

Kublai Khan Conquers Kublai Khan Conquers ChinaChinaTook 3 generations

of Mongol leaders to complete the conquest of China begun by Genghis Khan

China sometimes lost territory to nomadic groups, but foreigner had ever ruled the whole country until Kublai Khan

Who is Kublai KhanWho is Kublai KhanGrandson of Genghis Khan

Named himself Great Khan in 1260

The first Great Khan was Genghis’ son Ogadai

Beginning A New DynastyBeginning A New DynastyKublai Khan founded the Yuan

Dynasty, but it lasted less than a century.

This dynasty was important for many reasons:◦United China for the first time in 300

years◦Opened China to greater foreign trade

Failure to Conquer JapanFailure to Conquer JapanAfter uniting all of

China, Kublai set his sights on Japan; tried twice to take over Japan

1274 and 1281

In 1281, Kublai sent the largest seaborne invasion in world history until World War II to take over Japan.

After 53 days of fighting, a huge typhoon (hurricane) came threw wiping out the Mongols and Japan was successful in fighting them off.

The Mongols and Chinese The Mongols and Chinese UnitedUnitedMongol rulers had little in common

with Chinese subjects.

Because of this Mongols lived apart from the Chinese and obeyed different laws.

Kept the Chinese out of high government offices, but used them on the local level.

Encouragement of Foreign Encouragement of Foreign TradeTradeDuring the Mongol peace made

the trade route safe and Kublai Khan established mail routes which greatly improved trade.

Invited foreign merchants to visit China.

Marco Polo at the Mongol Marco Polo at the Mongol CourtCourtMarco Polo the most

famous European to visit China.

He traveled the Silk Roads and arrived in 1275.

He could speak several Asian languages and helped Kublai Khan on government missions throughout China

The End of Mongol RuleThe End of Mongol RuleDuring Kublai’s last years he sent

his armies and navies on several expeditions to try and expand the empire.

His military was defeated and were very costly to his economy.

Yuan Dynasty OverthrownYuan Dynasty OverthrownKublai died in 1294Mongol rule weakened after his

death

Yuan Dynasty remained in power but struggled with who would rule.

Chinese had long resented their Mongol rulers so they rebelled.

Chinese RebellionChinese RebellionChinese rebelled because of:

◦Years of famine ◦Floods◦Disease◦Growing economic problems◦Official corruption

Decline of the Mongol Decline of the Mongol EmpireEmpireBy the end of the Yuan the entire

Mongol empire disintegrated

The only Mongol empire that survived was the Golden Horde which ruled Russia for 250 years until Ivan III inserted Russian independence from the Mongols in 1480.