By: Andrew Van Dongen and James Kalin Eastern Asia -Mongolia -China -Korea -Japan

Mongolia before Genghis Khan Shamanism → Buddhism Nomadic Tribes

Genghis Khan Temujin Unified the Mongolian tribes Khuriltai Chinggis Khan = Genghis Khan Led wars across all of Asia.

Why were the Mongols successful? 1.Religious Tolerance 2.Communications a.Horseback (Pony Express) b.Pigeons 3.Loyalty / Fear 4.Horseback Riding agility a.Stirrups Various descendants of Genghis Khan controlled his empire for a number of years. Khubilai Khan was a notable one who led conquest on the rest of China and Japan. Split into four sections. The Yuan Dynasty is one of these sections. According to Marco Polo, Khubilai Khan said: "There are prophets who are worshipped and to whom everybody does reverence. The Christians say their god was Jesus Christ; the Saracens, Mohammed; the Jews, Moses; and the idolaters Sakamuni Borhan [that is, Sakiamuni Buddha, who was the first god to the idolaters]; and I do honor and reverence to all four, that is to him who is the greatest in heaven and more true, and him I pray to help me."

Yuan Dynasty 1271-(1300)-1368 Yanjing capital (modern day Beijing Beijing Societal + Internal improvements -Roads -Literature -Foreign Trade Collapse -Four Class SystemFour Class System -Heavy taxation -Hongjinjun (army with red head-scarves) Uprising -Ends the Yuan Dynasty Zhu Yuanzhang took control

Ming Dynasty 1368-(1500)-1644 Zhu Yuanzhang -Policies for peasants benefits -Attempted to end corruption among court officials -Rebuilt Great Wall, Grand Canal, and the Forbidden City -Literature, painting, music, poetry, and porcelain -Civil Service Jobs

Chinese Technological Advances The Yuan dynasty was not a time of technological advancements due to the mongol control, most technological advancements were in the military. Early in the Ming rule Ming dynasty was the leader of gunpowder based weapons and naval activity, but this did not continue into the latter centuries.

Japan Japan was decentralized in this time and this causes great turmoil and almost causes the destruction of the country. The culture was governed by war.

Kamakura period 1192-(1250)-1333 By the mid 12th century Japan was in a state of war between different warlords and their Samurai warriors. Japan was able to defend itself from the Mongols by putting the civil war on hold and a bit of luck. Bad weather and good defenses saved Japan from destruction, but with the costly war the dynasty quickly fell as soldiers lost allegiance.

Muromachi period 1333-(1500)-1573 Go-Daigo overthrew the Kamakura dynasty and was able to restore imperial power to japan. Because of the long periods of independence, Japanese lords demanded a more feudal society. Restarted ties with ming dynasty in China. The Onin war was a struggle between several lords and the current dynasty, Kyoto was destroyed by the war. Many wars were local and had little effect on the nation, but by the year 1500 the country was engulfed in war.

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Korea Life in 14th century Korea was difficult and dangerous,with Mongol raids and Japanese pirates. Korea was Buddhist during the Goryeo period and switched to Confucianism after the Joseon dynasty took over.

Goryeo period 918-(1300)-1392 Mongol raids slowly increased over time and eventually lead to the disposition of the leader, and led to a puppet government lead by the Yuan dynasty. Japanese pirates with the lack of government action also led to the end of the Goryeo period. The government was so weak and had so few supporters from the weakening of the Yuan dynasty that it was replaced by a mostly bloodless coup.

Joseon period 1392-(1506)1897 Yi Dan ascended the throne through the weaken goryeo puppet government. Consolidated power to maintain order. Sejong the great 1418 took back lands lost to the mongols and set up barriers to prevent future invasion. After Sejong Literacy purges scar the years

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Summary Asia was dominated by war for hundreds of years and each major power was not at peace for long, this spurred technological development between each isolated country. Asian countries were isolated from the rest of the world which is why they were such important influences on each other.