History of the Mongols and the Yuan Dynasty

The Mongols

• The Mongols were a nomadic tribe that traversed across Asia and established the Yuan Dynasty of China.
• They primarily used the bow and arrow as their weapon of choice.
• Chinggis Khan, a powerful Mongol ruler, unified the Mongols and expanded their empire through conquest.
• He believed he had a "Mandate of Heaven" to rule and brought lower-class Mongols into positions of power.
• The Mongols valued trade, which they had relied on in the past for survival and obtaining resources.
• Chinggis Khan’s legacy was carried on through his family, specifically his son Ogodei, who continued his conquests.
• Kublai Khan, Chinggis Khan's grandson, converted to Buddhism and gained power following a civil war after Ogodei's death.
• Kublai Khan implemented significant changes within the Yuan Dynasty including discouraging Daoism, employing a diarchy system, and limiting the roles of the Chinese people.
• Their empire eventually weakened due to their vast territory, which proved difficult to manage and defend.

The Mongols and Trade

• The Mongols facilitated the revival of the Silk Road and expanded the Grand Canal, fostering trade and cultural exchange across their empire.

Japan: An Overview

• Japan's first dynasty was the Jomon, followed by the Yayoi period, during which the Yayoi people settled in areas that are now modern Osaka and Kyoto.
• Japan borrowed heavily from the cultures of Korea and China.
• The four main islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, organized from north to south.
• The Ainu people inhabited Japan before being conquered by the Yamato people.
• Japan's indigenous people were referred to as "Wa" by China.

Japanese History and Culture

• Shintoism fully developed during the Yamato period, which falls under the Classical Japan era.
• Zen Buddhism was introduced into Japanese culture during this time.
• Emperor Kontoku, who reigned from 645–654 CE, was an influential Yamato ruler who implemented reforms known as the Taika Reforms.
• The capital of the Nara period was Chang-An.
• The Heian period marked the end of Japan’s classical period.
• Lady Muraskaki and Sei Shonagon were two prominent female writers of the Heian period, known for their works, “The Tale of Genji” and “The Pillow Book”, respectively.
• The Heian Dynasty collapsed due to a lack of focus on trade and clan alliances.