Mongol Empire and Conquest of China

Mongol Empire

• Mongols lived in yurts and raised horses, sheep, and yaks.
• Organized into clans and followed herds.
• Skilled horseback riders and warriors using swords, arrows, and spears.
• Genghis Khan unified Mongol clans and created a legal code.
• 100,000 trained warriors with skilled officers leading them.
• Collected tribute and recruited new soldiers.
• Known for aggressive warfare, looting, and burning cities.
• Divided into four territories, controlling land from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe and the Himalayas.
• Promoted trade between Asia and Europe and taxed products for revenue.

Mongol Conquest of China

• Kublai Khan continued the conquest and declared himself emperor.
• Established the Yuan Dynasty, appointing Mongol leaders to Chinese government positions.
• Maintained distinct Mongol culture, language, and customs, separate from Chinese culture.
• Respected conquered cultures.

Mongol Rule in China

• Controlled all of China.
• Ensured Yuan officials obeyed Mongol rulers.
• Attracted foreign visitors, increasing trade along the Silk Road, and fostered peace and stability.
• The Mongols didn't use the civil service exam. They were open to non-Chinese.

Marco Polo

• Venetian traveler who lived in China for 16 years.
• Wrote about his experiences and observations, including the well-planned city streets.
• Provided information about other regions.
• Served in government positions and returned to Italy.

Mongol Empire and Trade

• Expanded into Korea but failed to conquer Japan.
• Controlled vast territory connecting China to Europe.

China Rebuilds its Empire (Sui Dynasty)

• The Sui Dynasty unified China under emperor Wendi and Yangdi.
• Repaired the Great Wall.
• Rebuilt Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an).
• Built the Grand Canal connecting the Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers (North and South China).
• Used forced labor from farmers to build infrastructure, leading to revolts.

Tang Dynasty

• Lasted 300 years and established a strong central government.
• Taizong, a powerful ruler, brought back the civil service exam.
• Selected officials based on exam performance.
• Granted land to farmers.
• Promoted trade and wealth, urban development.
• Empress Wu, the only female emperor, strengthened the government.
• Lost control of the Silk Road.
• Weakened by rebellions and military governors.

Song Dynasty

• Strongest and most centralized government.
• Featured commercial and technological advancements resulting in prosperity and cultural flourishing.
• Famous for landscape painting.
• Nomadic tribes captured the north and the capital moved south.

Buddhism in China

• Introduced by traders and missionaries.
• Offered peace, comfort, and escape from suffering, appealing to people during troubled times.
• Buddhist monks and nuns supported communities.
• Buddhism spread to Korea.
• Some opposed it, fearing its wealth and impact on family structures.

Revival of Confucian Ideas

• Neo-Confucianism blended Buddhist and Daoist beliefs, emphasizing social responsibility and concern for the afterlife.
• It became a prominent religious tradition.
• Adapted Confucian ideas to appeal to a broader population, becoming less elitist.

Civil Service System

• Strengthened Chinese government by ensuring officials were less likely to be corrupt.
• Only men could take the exam.
• Favored the wealthy, as poor students couldn't afford tutors.
• High failure rates.
• Those who did not pass received alternative government jobs or teaching positions.
• Created a new scholar-official class, largely excluding those with manual trades.

Ming Dynasty

• Established peace and order under a harsh leader who trusted few.
• Punished suspected traitors harshly but brought about stability.
• Capital moved to Beijing.
• Reinstated the civil service exam.
• Conducted censuses and improved tax collection.
• Rebuilt canals and roads.
• Agriculture thrived.
• Economy expanded.

Ming Arts and Literature

• Produced novels written in vernacular language.

Ming Exploration

• Built large fleets to sail to other countries demonstrating power and exploring beyond China's coast.

Zheng He's Voyages

• Traded Chinese goods, such as silk, paper, and porcelain.
• Brought back exotic animals like giraffes.
• Faced criticism that expeditions were expensive and introduced unnecessary foreign ideas.

Arrival of Europeans in China

• Portuguese ships arrived, initially facing Chinese resistance to trade.
• China gradually accepted more trade, but resisted Christianity.

Fall of the Ming Dynasty

• Dishonest officials took over.
• Heavy taxes on farmers led to revolts.