1. The Mongols
Genghis & Kublai Khan

2. Mongols were nomadic people
Mongol horses were small, but their riders were lightly clad and they moved with greater speed.
These were hardy men who grew up on horses and hunting, making them better warriors than those who grew up in agricultural societies and cities.
Their main weapon was the bow and arrow. And the Mongols of the early 1200s were highly disciplined, superbly coordinated and brilliant in tactics.
Mongols were nomadic people

3. Genghis Khan- born Temüjin, was the founder and Great Khan(emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history
He came to power by uniting many of the Mongol nomadic tribes
He devotes himself to conquest. Mongols invades China
They encounter gunpowder; and the fire lance which evolves into the cannon
The Mongol Empire eventually occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia, Russia and Middle East

5. Genghis Khan embraced the diversity of his newly conquered territories.
He passed laws declaring religious freedom for all and even granted tax exemptions to places of worship.
This tolerance had a political side—the Khan knew that happy subjects were less likely to rebel
They did this through extracting tribute and obedience
Genghis divided his empire among his sons and grandsons into several khanates (sub-territories)
Their khans were expected to follow the Great Khan, who was initially Genghis’ son

6. Khanates

7. Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis Khan
He claimed the title of Khan of the Mongol Empire in 1260 after the death of his older brother
Was a prominent Mongol ruler in the 13th century and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty.
Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis Khan

8. Kublai Khan’s control opened China up to more trade and foreign contact
Enjoyed living in luxury as Chinese emperor
Attempted to take over Japan but Japanese might and weather halted the invasion
Kublai Khan improved the Grand Canal and added 135 miles to it
He adopted the Chinese political system and used Chinese bureaucrats
Kublai Khan

9. Buddhism vs. Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism was an attempt to create a more rationalist and secular form of Confucianism by rejecting superstitious and mystical elements of Daoism and Buddhism
Buddhism was a foreign religion and its monasteries had gained land, serfs and power over the elites
Neo-Confucians claimed they had become corrupt
Buddhism vs. Confucianism

10. Golden age of art & literature
Poetry was the main form of literature
Over 48,000 were poems written
Li Bo & Duo- Fu were the most popular
Nature, joy of friendship and free spirit were the favorite subjects
Painting – void of bright colors
Ceramics – porcelain
Golden age of art & literature

11. The End of Mongol Rule in China
Kublai Khan’s armies and navies suffered many defeats at a huge expense of lives and equipment
Heavy spending on wars, public works, and Yuan luxuries over burdened the treasury and overtaxed citizens
When Kublai Khan died his successors were inept at ruling the dynasty
In 1368 Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols
The Ming Dynasty was be established
The fall of the Yuan came the disintegration of the Mongol empire in Asia
Japan was on the rise
The End of Mongol Rule in China