1. The Mongol & Ming Empires
Section 2
The Mongol & Ming Empires

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?