Transcript Empire of the Great Khan

Empire of the Great Khan
Chapter 12 sect. 3
Pages 299 - 302
Main Idea & Why it Matters Now

Kublai 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 China

Took 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 Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan

Named himself Great Khan in 1260

The first Great Khan was Genghis’ son
Ogadai
Beginning A New Dynasty

Kublai 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 Japan

After 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 United

Mongol 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 Trade

During 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 Court

Marco 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 Rule

During 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 Overthrown
Kublai died in 1294
 Mongol 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 Rebellion

Chinese rebelled because of:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Years of famine
Floods
Disease
Growing economic problems
Official corruption
Decline of the Mongol Empire

By 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.