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Dec 1, 1100
Khan Rises
Temujin rose to power and tried to unite the Mongols. He began taking over his rival's land and uniting Mongol clans. The Mongols were divided into different clans so Temujin wanted to unite them. -
Jan 1, 1200
Mongols Emerge
The Mongols were considered one of the most brutal and efficent military forces. They were very frightening to other cities and towns so when they would come they would surrender. The Mongols combined superior tactics and weaponry with ruthless and brutality to take over. -
Jan 1, 1206
Mongols Unite
Temujin finally managed to unite the clans and become known as Genghis Khan or "Universal Ruler." Organized Mongols into powerful military machines who's forces began a bloody conquest for land. Over the next 20 years the Mongols conquered most of China.
Siege Warfare- Military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. -
Jan 1, 1227
Powerful Control
When Genghis Khan died the Mongols divided his empire into 4 khanates or regions. Each region was ruled by an heir and the Great Khan ruled over the entire empire. Genghis Khan's sons and grandsons tried to continue and finish his conquest to take over the world.
The Golden Horde- The Mongol army that swept over eastern Europe in the 13th century and established a suzerain in Russia -
Jan 1, 1235
Conquest of China
Kublai Khan was determined to conquer China. Even though the Mongols ruled northern China, the Song Dynasty ruled the south. The Song Dynasty resisted the Mongols for many years.
Song Dynasty- the imperial dynasty of China from 960-1279, noted for art, literature, and philosophy -
Jan 1, 1236
Conquering Russia
Batu decided to try and conquer Russia. Russians called the Mongols "Tartars", they took over and destroyed Moscow and Kiev. They also took control of Poland and Hungary but when they reached Western China they turned back hearing of the Great Khan's death. The Mongols conquered brutaly but ruled peacefully. They established peace across Asia and this became known as the Pax Mongolia period. -
Jan 1, 1260
Great Khan
Kublai Khan became the Great Khan. He was not the Great Khanover the Mongol Empire only over the Khanate did he hold power. -
Jan 1, 1279
Song Falls
Last Song ruler defeated and Kublai Khan declares himself emperor. He created the Yuan dynasty. Foreigners ruled all of China, this has never happened before. He tries to gain loyalty of his subjects. Chinese saw Mongols as rude and uncivilized also they resented them as rulers. To strengthen control he moved his capitol. He did not trust the Chinese so he gave them a small amount of power. Marco Polo came and visited his empire. -
Jan 1, 1294
Power Struggles
Control over the throne caused many struggles with power. This caused the Yuan rule to weaken. Floods and rising taxes increased the struggle in China. -
Jan 1, 1294
Yuan Falls
When Kublai Khan dies and the dynasty weakens it makes China ripe for rebellion. -
Jan 1, 1295
Marco Polo Comes
Marco Polo left his home and was captured. He told a prisoner about his adventures and he wrote them down. Some scholars doubt that Marco Polo ever went to China and that he just told stories. Yuan dynasty began to fall when many armies were destroyed. He tried to conquer Japan but that failed as well.
Kamikaze- (then)-divine wind
(now)-a japanese aircraft loaded with explosives and making a deliberate suicidal crash on an enemy target. -
Jan 1, 1300
Filled with Death
The Black Death became well known and killed millions. Many scholars think the Black Death spread from Asia to Middle East to Europe.
Black Death- The grea epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe in the mid 14th century. -
Jan 1, 1368
Mongols Defeated
Rebel army defeated the Mongols and they flrd to Manchutia ending foreign rule. -
Jan 1, 1368
New Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang was a peasant who became the new emperor. He and his rebel army overhtrew the Mongol emperor and created the Ming dynasty. Rulers conquered Korea, Mongolia, Central, and Southeast Asia. Reduced taxes and improved agriculture and trade to help rebuild China. Took control over government and emperors more powerful because of this killed thousands of rivals. -
Jan 1, 1400
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City was built in the heart of Beijing. This city was built for the Ming emperor, his family, court, and servants. China's common people were not allowed to be in this structure. Thus the name Forbidden City. -
Period: Jan 1, 1402 to Jan 1, 1424
Yonglo Controls
Hongwu dies in 1398 and his son takes over after a power struggle. The Ming capitol was moved to Beijing. When he moved the capitol Yinglo crrated the Forbidden City. -
Period: Jan 1, 1405 to Jan 1, 1433
Voyages
Yonglo sponsered oversea voyages so he could expand China'a influence. Zheng He led these seven voyages around the Indian Ocean all the way to Africa. He sailed with huge fleets to try and show their power. With these voyages thry traded with other contries. This demonstrated Ming China's growing sea powers. -
Jan 1, 1433
Voyages Stopped
When a new emperor took control he stopped the oversea voyages becaus ehe thought it cost to much money and that it could be used to help better defend the frontiers. This was to try and have Ming China more isolated from the rest of the world. -
Jan 1, 1500
Isolated
Ming China was fully isolated when the trade and travel was limited. Foreign merchants could only trade at a few ports. This was not followed though, Chinese smugglers tried to get around this rule. Traders and merchants arrived and brought new ideas and objects but the Ming China wanted to stick with their traditions. -
Jan 1, 1500
New Everything
New crops were introduced to China which increased the production of food. When the food increased the population grew which means cities grew. The porcelain and silk industries expanded but they remained mainly an agricultural society. -
Dec 1, 1500
Ming Dynasty Falls
The Ming Dynasty begins to fall. Weak rulers who ruled and corruption increased. -
Europeans Arrive
Matteo Ricci arrived and soon gained the trust of the Ming court and became highly respected. He introduced European mathematics and science. Ming China faced a Mongol threat from the north. Restored Great Wall to help rebuild some strength to help protect. Improved irrigation which increased farm production. -
Taxes Raised
Crop failures and high taxes slowly began to weaken the Ming Dynasty. Rebellions broke out because of famine and hardship. The Manchu people saw their chance to take control. -
New Dynasty
The Manchu came into Beijing and took the capitol. The last Ming emperor killed himself so as not to be captured and put into captivity. The Manchu created a new dynasy called the Qing dynasty. -
Period: to
Qing Rule
The Qing was the last dynasty of 3,500 years of imperial rule. China grew prosperous and expanded to its largest size ever. Faced heavy resistence from their Chinese subjects. Showed respect for customs to try and gain trust. Kept the same government that the Ming people had. They remained seperate from the rest of China though even after they had finally gained trust and loyalty. -
Period: to
Powerful Rule
Kangxi reduced taxes and expanded the empire. Supported the arts and entertained priests at court. -
Novels became popular
Qing writer Cao Zhan wrote a novel whuch became the greatest novel ever -
Period: to
Highest Point
Qianlongbrought the Qing dynasty to its height. Agriulture production rised and the population boomed. The economy grew and this improved transportation and foreign markets. He continued isolation and restricting foreign trade. The Dutch began a trade in Chinese goods. European trade changed China's trading restrictions. -
Trade Expanded
Lord George Macartney came to China and discussed expanding trade. China thought that British goods brought inferior to their own products. They demanded that Macartney show respect to the emperor. But he refused so they sent him away. China was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world. -
Qing Dynasty Falls
The efforts of the Europeans to open the isolation of China caused the Qing dynasty to fall. Under Ming and Qing rule there were many developments in the arts and literature. The Ming period literature raised which contributed to the growth of fiction. Short stories were popular and the first Chinese novels came out.
