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 .).

TANGSHAN EARTHQUAKE

TANGSHAN EARTHQUAKE 1976

Earthquake is one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the world. It has the ability to bring tremendous damage to the people as well as the nature itself. An earthquake usually is a cause from the movement of the tectonic plates. The movement is originated from the heating and cooling of the rocks underneath, the plates then would move and crash into each other generating the vibration. The epicenter, which is the location of the center point of the earthquake, would send seismic waves traveling from rocks and then finally reaching to the surface of the earth. Aftershocks may arise due to the new setting of these mutable shifting plates. (http://www.iitr.ac.in/centers/TIFAC/database/earth%20quakes/causes.html)An earthquake is measured by the seismometer where it measures the ground shaking by drawing the seismogram. The Richter magnitude scale measures its strength.  (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangshan_earthquake)

Here is a simple diagram illustrating an earthquake. The earthquake source is similar to the epicenter.

(http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoservice/images/ReferenceSources/eqaf1.gif)

During June 28^th 1976, the Tangshan Earthquake occurred in Hebei, China. Tangshan earthquake occurred in the early morning at 03:42:52 local time, and the earthquake itself lasted for approximately 15 seconds. This earthquake is believed to be largest earthquake with highest death toll during the 20^th century. Tangshan was the industrial city, in Hebei, which held almost one million inhabitants, including roughly 1 million people. This earthquake’s epicenter is located close to Tangshan.The residents of that area where still sleeping in the quiet city but was wakened by the fatal earthquake with a 7.8 magnitude on the Richter scale. (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangshan_earthquake)

Here is a picture of Dong Wu of Qinglong’s collapsed house. Dong Wu, who moved to stayed at his relative’s house. He informed the people that an earthquake is imminent, which he made sure that everyone packed their clothes on their bedside and ready to escape. On the day of the earthquake, everyone in his house was alive and well because they were fast enough to escape from the heavy roof. (http://www.globalwatch.org/ungp/doctor2.jpg)

(http://www.globalwatch.org/ungp/doctor2.jpg)

The effects of this earthquake are numerous, as well as very costly. Many people are affect as well as different infrastructures. 85% of the buildings collapsed or was ruined, and according to Hebei Revolutionary Committee that there were 655,000 deaths and 779,00 injuries. Surrounding cities and villages of Tangshan also faced some severe damages as well such as the cities of Qinhuangdaw and Tianjin. Tangshan is made up of metallurgy, coal, electric power, ceramics, and building  materials industries.  More than half of the construction was residential buildings, and 25 percent was it’s industrial structures and the remaining percentages for the construction of schools, hospitals and other buildings. Nearly all of the buildings within the area of the highest intensity collapsed. (https://www.cat-desk.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf). However these damages are not only from the 15 seconds strike of the earthquake it also includes the high number of aftershocks that followed. (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangshan_earthquake)

This is a picture of Tangshan Rolling stock plant, which collapsed and had to break off its production for almost 6 months.

(https://www.cat-desk.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf)

China lies on the Asian continent and the Indian plate, and the pacific plate surrounds it. The Indian plate pushes up from the northeastward, as well as the force from the Pacific plates, which is shifting to the direction of the west. Nevertheless, the major that precipitates this earthquake is the westward movement of the pacific plate on the fault line of Tan-Lu. (http://www.scieds.com/spinet/historical/china.html)

This is the picture of the location of the Tangshan earthquake as well as the other earthquakes around that area of Tangshan. 

(http://www.scieds.com/spinet/historical/china.html)

There were many reasons to why the damages of this earthquake were at a considerable amount. Tangshan was an area that was not highly expected for an earthquake to develop, which is why the buildings in Tangshan weren’t built to tolerate a happening an earthquake. It was mostly built on the unstable alluvial soil, which brings the collapse of many buildings. Predictions and signs of warning system was given to notice however, it was not very effective. Some people report of seeing earthquake lights and the water level did rise above normal. The Wang Chengmin state of Seismological Bureau Analysis and Prediction Department did state earlier that around the Tangshan area a crucial earthquake would occur during July 22, 1976 to August 5, 1976. So, some part of the people were informed and were saved, however the earthquake occurred at the early morning which is not such a perfect timing and so it is why people are still under their sheets and unable to evacuate. (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangshan_earthquake)

 This is a picture of a construction built on the underlying alluvial soil and due to liquefaction of soil it was unable to hold itself through the earthquake. 

(https://www.cat-desk.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf)

The effects of the earthquake was huge and some part was able to handle it very well (MEDC’s), however most of the areas weren’t able to make quick recoveries and reconstruction (LEDC’s). Haresh Shah, co-founder of RMS and Obayashi Professor (Emeritus) at Stanford University went to visit Tangshan four years after the earthquake. He stated that the area was still in devastation. He mentioned that local motor, coal, steel factories were not yet ready and rebuilt. Only one area was with the newly constructed building for survivors. On the outside of Tangshan, there were many improvements done, however in the city people still lived in tents, sheds, and some even lived under the collapsed space. The relocated of the displaced population couldn’t be concluded in several days. Although there were vast number of volunteers and army personnel who came to Tangshan and help to rescue those survivors and bring aid to those who were injured or homeless. In nutshell it shows that the aids and help were given to people not too slow which shows that the country had the ability to help and aid it’s people. However, at the year of 1976, China was still not an MEDC’s so, they lacked the technology and money, which could enable them to reconstruct those damaged buildings, and shelter for the people. It took more time for the city to get back on it’s feet and proceed with it’s former industries.(https://www.cat-desk.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf)

This is a picture of the immediate rescue for the citizens. 

(https://www.cat-desk.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf)

Bibliography 

-       "Causes of Earthquake." Plate tectonics, Cause of earthquake. 2 Dec 2007 <-http://www.iitr.ac.in/centers/TIFAC/database/earth%20quakes/causes.html>.

-       "Images." Reference Sources. 2 Dec 2007 .

-       "Doctor." Global Watch. 2 Dec 2007 .

-       Grossi, Patricia. The 1976 Great Tangshan Earthquake. RMS. 2 Dec 2007 .

-       "The deadliest earthquake of the 20th century." 1976 Tangshan Earthquake. SpiNet. 2 Dec 2007 .

WELCOME

Welcome to my blog! I hope you would enjoy reading my blogs and I would love it if you left some comments behind! 

Take care!