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Mongol khan Temujin defeats his enemies and unites scattered Mongol clans to begin building his empire.
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Mongols are a fierce invasion force marching through China in squads of 10,000 for tactical advantage to accompany their intense brutality. 1200-1300
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Mongols emerge from Central Asia to conquer China and create a vast empire. 1200-1300
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Temujin unites the final clans and thakes the title Genghis Khan, meaning "Universal Ruler," and sets out to create his empire.
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Genghis Khan and the other Mongols control more and more of Asia, learning the use of gun powder and siege warfare from the Chinese and the Turks. Siege Warfare: A military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault.
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Genghis Khan dies of old age and physical fatigue. He leaves his empire and dream of conquering the world to his sons and grandsons.
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Under Genghis Khan's grandson Batu, the Golden Horde sets out to conquer Russia to further extend the Mongol Empire. Golden Horde: The Mongol army that swept over eastern Europe in the 13th century and established a suzerain in Russia (from the golden tent of their commander).
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Kublai Khan becomes the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, but in reality, he only had power over the Khanate of the Great Khan.
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Marco Polo is sent on missions throughout China by the Yuan emperor. Kublai Khan did this because he took a liking to young Marco when his family visited the royal court.
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After much resistance, Kublai Khan defeats the last Song ruler Emperor Bing, and claims total control of China, completing his goal for an empire. Song Dynasty: And imperial dyanasty of China noted for art, literature, and philosophy.
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Kublai Khan dies. Before this, storms that the Japanese named Kamikazes or, "divine wind," kept them from conquering the islands of Japan. Kamikaze (now): Soldiers who used planes or other modes of transportation to bomb their opponents, killing themselves in the proccess.
Kamikaze (then): Many large storms that rescued the Japanese from an impending Mongol invasion. -
Marco Polo and his father return to Venice after 17 years of traveling through China. Not long after, Marco was captured and taken captive in the midst of a battle.
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Many Chinese groups fight against the Mongols, as they no longer need to fear Kublai Khan. 1300-1400
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Black Death dpreads through Asia. 1300-1400 Black Death: The great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the European population (mid 14th century).
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The Mongols are defeated by a rebel army, then retreat Manchuria. This ended their oppressive reign in China.
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Peasant Zhu Yuanzhang overthrows the final Mongol emperor with his rebel army. He then takes the name Hongwu, meaning "Vastly Martial," and begins the Ming dynasty.
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Hongwu's death leads to a power struggle for his throne.
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After the power stuggle comes to an end, Hongwu's son Yonglo becomes emperor. He built a great imperial city at Beijing's center. The Forbidden City. His reign lasted until 1424. Forbidden City: A walled enclosure at the center of Beijing containing the palaces of 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
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Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He leads seven voyages through the Indian Ocean as far as Africa with fleets of up to 300 ships to flaunt China's power. Among his ships he had junks, a type of trading ship. The voyages were put to rest in 1433. Junks: A small ship designed during the Ming dynasty for trading overseas.
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A new emperor puts a stop to He's voyages as they are far too expensive and a waste of China's resources.
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Ming China heavily restrics trading with foreign countries to halt any and all outside contacts. Merchants from other lands could only trade at a select few Chinese ports.
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European traders and Christian missionaries come to China. They vbrought with them many goods and ideas, one of the reasons that to Ming China's voluntary isolation.
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Farm production increased in Ming China after the arrival of new crops from the Americas, such as sweet potatoes and corn.
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Weak Ming rulers take control, leading to an increase in corruption. Treasuries were nearly emptied towards defense, leading to a sharp rise in taxes.
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Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit priest, arrives in China. He learned the Chinese language and adopted Chinese customs as to be accepted. He was granted entry to the Ming court thanks to his efforts. Around the time he arrived, the Ming began restoring the Great Wall of China to defend them from the renewed Mongol threat. Great Wall of China: A fortified wall in northern China, extending some 1,500 miles from Kansu province to the Yellow Sea north of Beijing.
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The tax increase, combined with crop failures led to angered civilians, then to rebellions.
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Ming China withers and becomes the Qing dynasty after the Manchu take the Ming capital at Beijing. The Qing dynasty topples in 1911.
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The Qing dynasty rules as the final dynasty in 3,500 years of Chinese imperial rule.
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Kangxi, emperor of Qing China, reduced taxes placed upon peasants and expanded his empire. He supported the arts and Jesuit priests, and he enjoyed learning about their advances in science and other subjects. His rule ended in 1772.
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Qing writer Cao Zhan writes Dream of the Red Chamber, a novel examining the decline of an upper-class Chinese family.
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Kangxi's grandson Qianlong conquers Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet, bringing his empire to its largest size. He improved agricultural production, leading to a steep rise in population. His rule ended in 1796.
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China's population sky rockets to 300 million thanks to Qianlong's agricultural advancements.
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Lord Geaorge Macartney, a British official, visits China to discuss expanding trade. He is refused and sent away for refusing to kowtow to emperor Qianlong. Kowtow: Kneeling in front of the emperor and touching your forehead to the ground nine times.
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Efforts by the Europeans to reach through China's closed society leads to the destruction of the Qing dynasty and the end of imperial rule.
