Overview and History 15major failure. The Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, the grandson
of Genghis, crossed into China’s territory, establishing the
new capital of the Mongol empire in Beijing and, by 1276,
overtaking the Southern Song capital in Hangzhou.
Yuan (AD 1206–1368)
Proclaiming the reign of the Yuan dynasty in 1271—Yuan
meaning ‘first’ to symbolise the first stage in a long tenure
of Mongol rule—Kublai Khan became the first non-Han
emperor to rule China.
Resented for their continued use of Mongol customs
and language and a determined focus on foreign rather
than Chinese officials to govern, the era of Mongol
rule nonetheless contributed a
number of significant things to
China’s development. The lack
of roles for Chinese within the
government led to a peak in all
things cultural, including the
creation of the Beijing Opera
art form. Kublai Khan is also
responsible for the construction
of the Grand Canal.
But foreign rule grated continuously against the Chinese,
making it none too hard to find parties interested in sending
the Mongols packing.
Ming (AD 1368–1644)
Perhaps looking to history for inspiration, in the 1350s a
group of rebels called the Red Turbans did just that. Led
by Zhu Yuanzhang, they took advantage of the weakened
state of control that existed after the death of Kublai Khan,
capturing first the area surrounding the old capital of Nanjing
and eventually the Mongol capital of Beijing. In 1368,
Zhu proclaimed the Ming dynasty, which lasted till 1644.
Focused intently on reorganisation and restoration of a ‘local’
government, Ming emperors prioritised reaffirming central
government control and the edicts of Confucianism over
discovery and exploration.
Marco Polo’s book about
his travels in Asia provides a
first-hand account of both the
achievements and inner workings
of the Yuan court, writing from
first-hand experience as an
official to the Mongol court who
quickly became a favourite
advisor to Kublai Khan himself.