The Mongols Conquer China In this lesson students

The Mongols Conquer China In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms: Kublai Khan Yuan Dynasty Silk Road Fall of Yuan Dynasty Ming Dynasty E. Napp

Kublai Khan, a grandson of Chinggis Khan, conquered China. E. Napp

Kublai Khan • In 1279, Kublai Khan, a grandson of Chinggis Khan, conquered China. • He adopted the Chinese name of “Yuan” for his dynasty. • Kublai Khan built a new capital city (Beijing). E. Napp

Kublai Khan conquered China but adopted many Chinese ways. E. Napp

Trade • Under Kublai Khan, trade between China and the West increased. • The Mongols took control of the Central Asian trade routes. • The Mongol rulers protected merchants and travelers along the trade routes. E. Napp

The Silk Road was an important trading route. During the Yuan dynasty, trade along the Silk Road increased. E. Napp

Mongol Government • While the Mongols adopted many Chinese ways, they did not allow the Chinese to become high government officials. • Chinese men could not participate in the government. • However, the Chinese were allowed to maintain their cultural traditions. E. Napp

The Chinese were not permitted to become high government officials during the Yuan dynasty. The Mongols firmly controlled the government. E. Napp

The Mongols built a new capital city. Today, this city is called Beijing. For many years, Westerners called it Peking. E. Napp

The Fall of the Yuan Dynasty • The Mongol Dynasty fell in 1368. • The Chinese believed that the Mongols had lost the Mandate of Heaven due to massive famines. • A Chinese peasant led a rebellion against the Mongols and a new Chinese dynasty was founded. E. Napp

The Ming dynasty was founded by a Chinese peasant. E. Napp

Ethnocentrism and Isolationism • The Ming emperors were ethnocentric. They felt that other cultures were inferior. • Gradually, the Ming emperors began to isolate China from other cultures. • Isolation led to China falling behind other cultures. E. Napp

Isolationism prevents cultural diffusion. New technologies and inventions are not shared. This can harm a nation. E. Napp

Questions for Reflection: • Who was Kublai Khan and how did he affect Chinese history? • How and why did the Mongols adopt many Chinese ways? • What was the Silk Road and why did trade increase during Mongol rule of China? • Why did the Yuan dynasty fall and why did the Mings isolate China? E. Napp