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The mongols are a nomadic and cunning people notorious for their military power and tactics. They traveled close together so they could assemble quickly for battle, and had superior weapons. They appeared from Central Asia.
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Temujin was a powerful Khan that conqured the other Khans so he could unite the Mongols under his rule. *A Khan was the chief of a Mongol clan
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Temujin officially changes his name to Genghis Khan, "Universal Ruler". He organized the Mongols using discipline and rewards to earh the loyalty of his troops. In battle, he used powerful tactics like brutality, stalking the enemy, and psychological warfare to aid his conquest for ruling the world.
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By this time, Genghis Khan has conquered much of Asia using siege warfare and experimenting with gunpowder. *Siege warfare is when an army surrounds a city or fortress on all sides and has everyone attack at once.
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Genghis Khan dies and leaves his empire to be divided up by his heirs. *One of Genghis Khan's heirs, Batu ruled his own khanate and tried to take over Russia. This khanate was called the Golden Horde.
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Kublai Khan determines that he will take over all of China
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Kublai Khan gains enough power to become "The Great Khan" over the Mongols
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Morco Polo Sr. and Jr. come from Venice to visit China. The younger Marco Polo earns the emperors favor and travels around China ding missions for him for 17 years.
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The last Song Dynasty ruler is killed, Kublai Khan declares himself emperor and begins the Yuan Dynasty. This is the first time all of China has ever been under the rule of foreigners. *The Song Dynasty was a Chinese Dynasty thaat ruled from 960-1279. They continued to rule in Southern China until the Mongols defeated them
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Kublai Khan dies, leaving people to figh over the throne. None have enough power or support to rule the empire, and the Yuan empire falls apart. *One of the leaders after Kublai Khan tried to take over Japan. They were stopped by very harsh storms that stopped them from reaching the island. The Japan called these Kamikaze, or "Divine winds". Current day, kamikaze is a suicide bomber.
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Both Marco Polo Sr. and Jr. return to Venice. On their return, the younger Polo is imprisoned and writes down his adventures in China in a book.
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Before the effects of poor leadership hit the people, there was a small time of peace. Trade flourished. Then the rebel factions began to rise up against the Mongols. *Because of trade many believe the Black Death was brought from China to the Middle East and Europe
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Chinese peasent named Zhu Yuanzhang uses his rebel army to overthrow the last Mongol leader. Afterwards, he takes the name Hongwu, "vastly martial", and creates the Ming Dynasty.
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Hongwu helps to rebuild China. He reduces taxes, helps improve agriculture and trade, expels Mongol ways, brings back traditional Chinese values, reintroduces Confucianim, and expands his territory.
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Hongwu dies and leaves a power struggle with his death.
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Yonglo, Hongwu's son, becomes emperor and moves the capital to Beijing creating the Forbidden City. *The Forbidden City was a city built within another city that only the emperor's family, court, and servants could enter. IT was made by Yonglo in the Ming Dynasty.
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Emperor Yonglo sponsored a muslim Chinese admiral, Zheug He, on seven voyages around the Indian Ocean. The fleets had as many as 300 ships at one time, some of which were junks and treasure ships. When he met with foreign rulers, Zheug He would often give them gifts from China to earn their favor. *Junks- Trading/Cargo Ships up to 400 feet long used in China by Zheug He to carry supplies and treasure
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Ming Emperor Yonglo dies.
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When a new emperor (after the death of Yonglo) comes to power, he stops the voyages because they cost too much, especially when that money could be put to better use elsewhere.
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With new leaders, comes more isolation from foreigners. Many new restrictions are put on trade and travel. This was done in an attempt to keep the growing European influence from destroying traditional Chinese values and practices.
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Mongols renew their attacks on China. This causes workeres to be put back on the Great Wall. *Great Wall of China- To defend from attacks from the Mongols during the Ming Dynasty, the emperor had the Great Wall repaired and enlarged. It defends from threats from the North.
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American crops like corn and sweet potatoes arrive in China. This means more food becomes available in China, which causes a growth in population. Due to the extra labor available from population growth, silk and porcelain industries grew.
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Jesuit priet, Matteo Ricci, arrives in China from Italy. He learns the language and customs of the Chinese people, and is later offered a place in the Ming court. Once a part of court, he starts to introduce European Maths and Sciences.
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The Ming Dynasty starts to decline as the new leaders are weak. This leads to corruption in the government and taxes to be placed on the lower classes.
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Poor crops and high taxes cause rebellions to break out all over China. This causes China to become vulnerable.
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The Manchu see the Ming Dynasty has become weak and take over China. They then start the Qin Dynasty.
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During his rule, Kangxi reduced taxes, expanded Chinese territory, and allowed Jesuit priets in his court to make more advances in Science.
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Though his grandfather, Kangxi, still lives, Qianlong begins his rule of China. He conquers Taiwan, Mongoloia, and Tibet. During this time, agriculture production rises, causing population growth once again.
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China's population has reached over 300,000,000
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Kangxi dies, but his son has already taken over the empire.
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Qianlong continues the restrictions on trade and China's isolation. Because other countries wish for more access to China's goods, especially tea, Lord George Macartney is sent to China to discuss trade. When he visits he refuses to kowtow to the emperor, which causes the Chinese to send him away, saying he does not respect them or their traditions. *Kowtowing- Kneeling in front of the Emperor and touching your forhead to the ground 9 times as a show of respect.
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Europe continues to try and make China more open, but to no avail. Because of this, China doesn't get access to the new technologies discovered through the years, causing them to fall behind and the Qin Dynasty to end.
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The Qin Dynasty officially ends.
