The Mongol & Ming Empires Section 2 The Mongol & Ming Empires
Mongol Armies Build an Empire Mongols from Central Asia Nomadic people Genghis Khan unites Mongol tribes 1200s Empire stretched from Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe Reputation for fierceness Ruled land with toleration & justice Brought period of peace Army > skilled horseman > fast moving His heirs conquered China Asian culture spreads west
China Under Mongol Rule Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis) Conquers rest of China > end of Song Dynasty Chinese & Mongolian culture mixed Yuan Dynasty est. (Chinese name) Policy of toleration Contact between Europe and Asia continues
Marco Polo Italian merchant visited Yuan Dynasty under Kublai? Vivid accounts of the splendor of China Mail system Well kept roads Cities > large and well built Sparks European interest
The Ming Restore Rule 1368 Ming Dynasty est. by Zhu Yuanzhang Ming means brilliant Restored civil service system & Confucian learning Farming increases New fertilizers, crops, and landscape reshaping (terraces) Industry > paper, porcelain, & tools Painting, poetry, and writing flourish
Exploration Ming rulers sent fleet to distant waters to show off 1405 Zheng He commands 7 expeditions Goal? Promote trade & collect tribute 1435 Ming ruler bans building of ships? Fleets too costly > not enough profit Confucian scholars no interest in overseas commerce What if?