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T H E M O N G O L S
Famous for their military excellence, the Mongols rose to power in Asia quickly
In about 25 years, the Mongol empire extended from China to present-day Poland!
Mongols were pastoral (animal herders) but their army of only 130,000 had expert military tactics and could easily strike fear in any
city. In fact, many cities surrendered just upon seeing them!
In 1206, Temujin, also known as Genghis Khan “strong ruler”, was elected leader
G E N G H I S K H A N
• Conquered China after the Song dynasty
• After Genghis Khan’s death, his sons divided up the land into territories called “khanates”. Each son having rule over one territory
• Kublai Khan took control of China and the “Yuan” dynasty was created
• Moved the capital to present-day Beijing
D O W N FA L L O F M O N G O L D Y N A S T Y
Too much spending on foreign conquests Corruption at court
Instability Zhu Yuanshang, son of a peasant, created an army and set up the
new dynasty, the Ming dynasty
Too much spending on foreign conquests
Corruption at court Instability
Zhu Yuanshang, son of a peasant, created an army and
set up the new dynasty, the Ming dynasty
D O W N FA L L O F M O N G O L D Y N A S T Y
B A C K G R O U N D• Mongol Empire was
overthrown in 1368
• New Emperor, Ming Hong Wu, ruled and his dynasty lasted until 1644
• His son, Yong Le, built the Forbidden City & extended the Great Wall of China (to what it is today)
M I N G D Y N A S T Y
*Naval voyages went to the explore the Indian Ocean and visited western-India and East
Africa
*Returned with new information about the world and never
before seen items (like giraffes, which he put in the Imperial zoo)
P O RT U G U E S E E X P L O R E R S H I T C H I N A
• Portuguese explorers came to China being the 1st direct contact with Europe (besides Marco Polo’s visit)
• The Chinese ruler had little interests and saw them as a strange barbarian therefore little trade began at first
• BUT… new ideas spread through China.
• Christian missionaries were impressed with Confucianism, printed books & architecture
• Chinese were fascinated with clocks & eyeglasses
• When the Portuguese went back home, Europeans were even more curious about the great civilization on the other side of the world
M A J O R C O N T R I B U T I O N S
• Completed the Great Wall of China
• Restoration of the Grand Canal
• Forbidden City
• Blue & White Porcelain
• International Trade & Commerce
• Machinery for silk and cotton looms
Literature, Art, Architecture
Drama/theater- started musical plays
Began writing novels “Journey to the West”
“Tale of the Water Margin” “The Plum in the Golden
Vase”
FA L L O F T H E M I N G D Y N A S T Y
• Late 16th Century (1500s), groups struggled to put their leader as emperor
• All rulers lacked control over the empire
• Government corruption lead to high taxes, peasant unrest
• Japanese Shoguns tried to conquer the region but failed. Cost China a lot of money to pay for the war
• Dry/cold weather caused decrease in crops
• Deadliest earthquake in history killed 800,000 people
• In 1630s, disease and death caused peasant revolt
• The last Ming Emperor hanged himself when the capital fell to the peasants
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