Yuan Dynasty

“Yuan Dynasty”

Dates of power and a map of dynasty

            Yuan Dynasty lasted for 97 years, starting from the year of 1271to 1368. Yuan Dynasty all began when Kublai Khan defeated the war against Ariq Boke. Yuan Dynasty was a period of Mongolian rule, which took over China. It followed from the Song Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty came after ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008.).

This is  a picture of the whole territory under Yuan Dynasty.

This is another map of boundary of the Yuan Dynasty which included complete China and Mongolia.

Reason for take-over

In the beginning, Kublai Khan ordered his men to construct the capital near Beijing. This Mongolian empire wanted to expand their territory and was able to build the place was called “Dadu”, which has the meaning of the great capital ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008 ty>.). Kublai Khan then started to group up his army, and when he was ready the army traveled to Southern Song Dynasty. Song Dynasty at the time was facing serious financial difficulties, they were not able to find money for public expenditures, and peasants had to pay huge amount of taxes and problems of inflation then arose across China. Song Dynasty also had corruptions, and child emperors brought even more problems (Rossabi, Morris. "Encarta." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan. 2008 .).This was why Kublai Khan was able take over the Southern Song Dynasty. However, Kublai was able to expand his territory farther and farther until he was controlling the whole China and many more places ("Yuan's Decline and Fall, Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Ancient Chinese History." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan.2008 .).

 

Leaders of the Civilization

            During the control of Yuan Dynasty there were a total of 8 leaders ("Yutopian." Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 A.D.). 2000. 13 Jan. 2008 .). The most well known leader during Yuan dynasty was Kublai Khan, Yuan Shi Zu. He was the founder of the Yuan Dynasty and ruled from 1279-1295. As stated earlier, he was the person who began the construction of the capital for the Yuan Dynasty. During his reign, he was considered to be popular amongst Chinese people, because there were a number of reforms that he made ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008 .).

This is a picture of Kublai Khan.

A leader from another civilization outside of China on the same period

            Sultan Osman Gazi was the founder of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey. He was the very first ruler during the Ottoman Empire, in control from 1299 to 1326. Osman Gazi was a brave and heroic man, which most people favored. He also made new reforms such as forming the empire, creating new laws, adopting taxes as well as forming the Akce, the first Ottoman coin. The population also favored him for his generosity, since he always wanted to help the poor. He was willingly to give his own clothes to the ones who are in need of them ("All About Turkey." Osman Gazi. 2008. 13 Jan. 2008 .).

This is a picture of Sultan Osman Gazi

Accomplishments

            There were many accomplishments made during the rule of the Yuan Dynasty. The most stunning accomplishments during the Yuan Dynasty is that the empire was able to control a total of over 4.6 million square miles.The Yuan Dynasty was controlling the largest amount of land at the time. Not only the whole China, they also had authority over Siberia in the north, the south sea in the south, Tibet, Yunnan province, Xinjiang province, Stanovoi Range as well as their original territory in Mongolia ("Yuan's Decline and Fall, Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Ancient Chinese History." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan. 2008.). 

            During Yuan Dynasty, the economy boosted and more economic developments were made. Agriculture methods changed and improved, and that the products, food were in greater quantities than before. Yuan Dynasty rulers had great support for the Silk Road trade network, as well as bringing Chinese technologies to the west ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008.). Things that they export to the west varies, for example purified saltpeter, printing techniques, porcelain, playing cards etc. Trading involves money, and currency stimulation so paper currencies played a huge role during the Yuan Dynasty ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008 .).

Porcelain Dish with blue and white color design 

            The Chinese literature also developed greatly. Many Chinese novels, drama and poems were written during this period of Yuan. Western music was also brought into China. The entry of western music improved the Chinese’s performing arts. Even the studies of different subjects such as; Mathematics, Astronomy, Medicine, as well as Science developed into a higher level ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008.).

Reason for fall

            The Yuan Dynasty ended at the year of 1368. The ending years of Yuan Dynasty was filled with disagreements and corruptions among the population as well as the ruling class. Peasant uprisings came up, and the red head-scarves army, Hongjinjun, had conflicts and battles with the Yuan army. This Hongjinjun group was lead by Zhu Yuan Zhang. After several fights, he showed his good leadership skills, and his ability to bring some success to his army ("Yuan's Decline and Fall, Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Ancient Chinese History." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan.

2008 .). Within a year of disruptions to the Yuan Dynasty, eventually Zhu Yuan Zhang was able to take control of the capital, Dadu. The internal conflicts between the ruling class was because of the fight for the seizure of power between five princes ("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008.). However, the last king was Yuan Sun Di, who was not able to keep Yuan Dynasty continuing, which was why Zhu Yuan Zhang finally had demolish the Yuan Dynasty and brought Ming Dynasty to China ("Yutopian." Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 A.D.). 2000. 13 Jan. 2008 .).

This is a drawing of Emperor of Zhu Yuan Zhang who was the founder of Ming Dynasty  

Bibliography

1.("Yuan Dynasty." Yuan Dynasty. 8 Jan. 2008. 13 Jan 2008 .)

2.(Rossabi, Morris. "Encarta." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan. 2008 .).

3.("Yuan's Decline and Fall, Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Ancient Chinese History." Yuan Dynasty. 2007. 13 Jan.2008 .).

4. ("Yutopian." Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 A.D.). 2000. 13 Jan. 2008 .).

5.("All About Turkey." Osman Gazi. 2008. 13 Jan. 2008 .).