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Nomads known as the Mongols invade China with the aid of powerful weapons, strategy, and brutality. They used a form of invasion known as siege warfare, coming in to battle from all sides.
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To assert Mongol order, Temujin becomes the ruler named Ghengis Khan.
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Ghengis Khan dies and his grandsons inherit his kingdom in four parts. They continue to conquer land around them for more power.
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Ghengis Khan's grandson, Batu, leads the Golden Horde, a portion of the original Mongol Empire, to devastate several Russian cities for land.
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The era of Pax Mongolia (Mongol Peace) begins, and trade routes are heavily protected. Because of protected trade routes, trade increases between China and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the Black Death, a disease also known as the Black Plague that ravaged Europe, is spread greatly.
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Kublai Khan takes over power of the Mongol Empire and attempts to conquer all of China.
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The Mongols take over power from the Song Dynasty after many years of failed attempts.
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Kublai Khan forms the Yuan Dynasty in the place of the Song and lives happily for a while.
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The Yuan Dynasty suffers many defeats from failed conquering missions. They attempt to take of the islands of Japan, but a Kamikaze destroys their fleet. Then, a Kamikaze was the name of a strong wind, but now it is the name of someone who attacks suicidally.
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Kublai Khan dies, and the loss of power starts many rebellions in for the leadership of the Yuan Dynasty.
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Marco Polo returns to Italy after spending 17 years travelling in and out of China. He is taken captive there, and while in prison tells one of his inmates about the splendor of the Yuan Dynasty of Mongol China. His inmate later writes a book about his tales and it is very well received.
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A rebel army led by Zhu Yuan Zhang (Hongwu) defeats the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty and they flee away.
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Hongwu founds the Ming Dynasty where the Yuan Dynasty previously was. He appoints himself as Emperor and gives himself supreme power.
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Hongwu dies, and his son, Yonglo, takes over the position as Emperor. He moves the capital to Beijing, that he surrounds with high walls. In the center of the city he builds a second city that only a select few were allowed to enter. It was called the Forbidden City.
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Zheng He leads seven voyages around the Indian Ocean as far as South Africa. Hi sfleet was made up of trading ships called junks and treasure ships. His goal was to trade the riches of his land with other countries.
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A new Emperor is appointed to rule the Ming Dynasty, and in order to save resources, he stops the voyages of Zheng He.
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The Ming Dynasty's Emperor moves China into complete isolation from the outside world to preserve tradition.
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The Ming Dynasty experiences threats from the outside world. The Mongol and European threats develop a need for stronger protection, so they finish building The Great Wall of China, a large wall protecting them from the north.
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At first crops and agriculture are booming, but soon floods and famine lead to unhappiness and rebellion.
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Matteo Ricci, an Italian, finds a way to break through the isolation of China. He gains a high position in the court and encourages the Ming to value mathematic and scientific work.
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The Manchu from Manchuria break through the Ming Dynasty's isolation, and take over the throne. They create the Qing Dynasty.
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The Qing Dynasty begins, and starts to merge Chinese culture with its own. It stays partially seperate, however, and their queue, a shaved hairtyle with one braid in the back, lives on.
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Xiangxi rules the Qing dynasty, increases territory, and enjoys arts and sciences.
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Some time in the 1700's, Cao Zhan writes the novel "Dream of the Red Chamber," a story of the decline of an upper class family. Literature flourishes in this time.
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Qianlong takes rule of China. He conquers Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet. Agriculture, economy, and population increase.
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The population of China surpasses 300 million people.
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The Dutch begin to trade porcelin, slik, and tea with the Chinese people.
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Lord George Macartney of England attempts to break through China's isolation and trade with them.
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George Macartney brings gifts for trade to the Chinese, but they believe that everything they own is far superior. Before Macartney can leave, they attempt to make him kowtow, a bowing form of respect in which you touch your head to the ground 7 times.
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China's reluctancy to trade with foriegn countries brings on the downfall of imperial rule all over China.
