Mongol Empire and Chinese Dynasties

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Nomadic people who attacked the Chinese, north of China.

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In 1206, a leader named Temujin united the tribes and became Genghis Khan, the "Universal Ruler."

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Mongol Conquest

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Genghis Khan created a powerful army, conquered northern China by 1227, and his sons and grandson Kublai Khan completed the conquest.

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Kublai Khan's rule

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Kublai Khan started the Yuan Dynasty, was culturally different from the Chinese, and taxed the people heavily.

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Marco Polo's travels

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An Italian merchant who traveled through China from 1271-1295, wrote about it, and inspired others to visit.

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Mongol invasion of Japan

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The Mongols failed to invade Japan, became weak, and faced rebellion in China.

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Zhu Yuanzhang's rebellion

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In the 1300s, Zhu Yuanzhang's rebel army defeated the Mongols, starting the Ming Dynasty.

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Great Sea Voyages

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Zheng He led 7 grand sea voyages between 1405-1433, enhancing China's reputation as the strongest nation.

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"Forbidden City" in Beijing

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The palace had 9,000 rooms, and commoners were not allowed inside the gates.

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Great Wall of China

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Took over 2,000 years to build, is 2,000 miles long, 25 feet high, and 12 feet wide, with over 8 million deaths during construction.

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China's isolation in 1430

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Emperor Zheng He isolated China, leading to the Ming Dynasty's fall in 1644 and the West's rise in the 1800s.