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Temujin, a very powerful khan, began to unite the Mongol clans of the time and conquer his opponents.
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The Mongols, a nomadic people, burst from Central Asia. Would later create the largest empire in the world and conquer China.
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Accepting the title 'Genghis Khan,' Temujin succeeded in his efforts.
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Kublai Khan is born.
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Genghis Khan dies.
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Kublai Khan began his conquest of China.
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Batu, grandson of Jenghiz Khan, decided to take over Russia with the Golden Horde.
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The Mongol empire accepted a new Great Khan, Kublai Khan.
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The final Song ruler is defeated.
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Kublai Khan dies and many wanted to take throne, whose struggles weakened the empire.
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Returning home, Marco Polo and his father head to Venice.
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The Black Death spread from Asia to Europe and the Middle East. It eliminated most of Europe.
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A rebel army defeated the Mongol powers. Ming dynasty created.
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Hongwu dies, and his son Yonglo takes over.
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Yongolo, Hongwu's son, took power and in the middle of Beijing he built a city complex and entrance was forbidden, hence the name.
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A Chinese Muslim admiral, Zheng He, showed China's power by leading 300 trading ships around the Indian Ocean and to Africa. They presented gifts from China and leaders of the area would send thank you's back to the emporer.
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Oversea voyages from China were ended by a new emporer becuase they were to expensive and the resources were argued that they could be put to better use.
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Crops such as corn and sweet potatoes came from America which added to farm output.
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The Ming Dynasty started to decline in the late 1500's.
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Christian missionaries and European traders was one reason for the emporer of China's decision to isolate China from the rest of the world to "preserve" China's old traditions, values, and religion.
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An Italian Jesuit priest, Matteo Ricci, was a European who learned Chinese to be accepted into China. He later entered the Ming court and introduced European science and math.
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Crops failing + increased taxes = famine and hardships on family, it also brought rebellions.
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Manchu saw that the Ming dynasty was weakening and captured the capital. The emporer commited suicide to avoid capture, and the Manchu named their new dynasty Qing.
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Kangxi lowered taxes for the lower-classes and brought the empire into sections of Central Asia. He supported the arts and he eagerly learned from the Europeans about their new inventions.
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Cao Zhan, a Qing writer, wrote 'Dream of the Red Chamber.' It describes a rich family's dcline.
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Qianglong, Kangxi's grandson, rules and brought the empire to the largest it would ever be by taking Tibet, Mongolia, and Taiwan.
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The population grew to 300+ million people under Qing rule. The economy was prosporous as well from markets, both foreign and domestic, and improved transportation.
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Kangxi stops ruling the Qing dynasty; followed by his grandson, Qianong.
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Lord George Macartney came from Britian to China to talk about expanding trade. They were furious with his products, and demanded he knelt in front of the emporer. He reused, and they sent him on his way.
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The Qing dynasty ends, ending two thousand years of Chinese feudal monarchy.
