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Dec 31, 1100
Temujin Begins Conquering
Temujin was a powerful khan, or chief. He began conquering his rivals and aided in uniting the Mongol clans in Central Asia as one. Siege Warfare: The art of military fighting. -
Jan 1, 1200
Mongols Emerge
A group of nomads emerged from Central Asia and became one of the most brutal military forces of all times. They only moved about five miles each day and moved around like a small mobile city. -
Jan 1, 1206
Tenujin Takes Title of Genghis Khan
He was a powerful chief and helped unite the Central Asian Mongol clans. Genghis Khan means "Universal Ruler." Once he had achieved this title he set out to create an empire. His armies were brutal and enforced strict discipline. -
Jan 1, 1227
Genghis Khan Dies
Genghis Khan perished due to unknown reasons. He had united the Mongol clans and taken a high title. He created an empire and conquered most of North and Central Asia. On his deathbed he told his sons, "With Heaven's aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That thast is left for you." -
Jan 1, 1235
Conquest of China Began
Kublai Khan was determined to conquer China. He began in the East and moved West. -
Jan 1, 1236
Golden Horde Conquered Russia
Genghis Khan's empire was divided into four regions upon his death. Each was ruled by an heir of his. The Golden Horde was ruled under Batu, Gengis Khan's grandson, and took control of Russia in 1236. Golden Horde: One of four regions that made up Genghis Khan's vast empire. -
Jan 1, 1260
Kublai Khan becomes Great Khan
Kublai Khan becomes the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Khan means chief. He also had set out to conquer all of China. -
Jan 1, 1279
The Last Song Leader was Defeated
The Song Dynasty resisted the Mongols to the south for many years but in 1279 the last Song leader was defeated. Song Dynasty: A Chinese dynasty to the South of the Mongol dynasties. -
Jan 1, 1279
Kublai Khan Conquered China
Kublai Khan began his conquest of China in 1235. In 1279 when he finally defeated the Song, he achieved his goal. This was the first time all of China was ruled by foreigners. Kublai Khan created the Yuan Dynasty and declared himself emperor. Black Death: scholars believe this was the disease that spread to the Middle East and Europe during the period of Mongol Peace. -
Jan 1, 1294
Kulhai Khan Dies
He conquered all of China. He was the second greatest Mongol ruler, however he adopted many elements of the Chinese culture. He was kind, but could have outbreaks of cruelty. When he died, his successors lacked his leadership qualities and the Yuan dynasty was weakened. Kamikaze: divine wind- it was a storm that wiped out the invading Mongol fleets. Now it is referred to the japanese planes that bombed in WWII -
Jan 1, 1295
Marco Polo and His Father Return to Venice
Marco Polo was and Italian trader. He and his father ventured to China and visited the Yuan court and Kublai Khan took a certain interest in him. Khan sent him on missions for 17 years in China. In 1295 Polo and his father returned home, but were captured and imprisoned in battle. -
Jan 1, 1368
Rebel Army Defeats Mongols
After Khan's death in 1294, the Yuan Dynasty was weakened because his successors lacked his leadership qualities. When the Mongols were defeated, they fled to Manchuria. -
Jan 1, 1398
Hongwu Dies
He founded the Ming Dynasty. He improved the civil service exam and added censors to society. He also ordered the exucution of all of his rivals. -
Jan 1, 1402
Yonglo Begins Ruling
When his father, Hongwu dies in 1398 a power struggle breaks out. Following this, he gained power and became emperor of the Ming Dynasty Forbidden City: a vast imperial city in the heart of Bejing built by Yongly, named because most were not permitted to enter. -
Jan 1, 1405
Yonglo Sponsors Overseas Voyages
To extend Chinese influence, Yonglo sponsored seven overseas voyages with Zheng He in command. Junks: Trading ships that were part of the 300 vessel fleets on the overseas voyages. -
Jan 1, 1500
Ming Dynasty Isolation
The Ming Emperors began isolating Ming China from the outside world and prohibited foreign trade and outside contact. Also Christian missionaries arrived, and tried to influence american traditions into chinese cuture. -
Jan 1, 1500
Europeans Arrive
European traders and Christian missionaries arrived in the 1500s. This was another reason for the Ming Dynasty to become so isolated. They introduced many new ideas and cultures but the Chinese sought to preserve their traditions and values. -
Dec 31, 1500
Ming Dynasty Begins to Decline
Many rulers who took the trone were weak and under their rule, corruption broke out. Taxes were raised due to the Mig treasury being drained. Hardships formed and rebellions brokw out. -
Mateo Ricci Arrives
He was an Italian Jesuit priest who gained influence in China. He learned to speak chinese and adopted many of the common chinese customs. He also earned a position in the Ming Court. With his respect, he gradually introduced European mathematics and literature into Chinese culture. Great Wall of China: A wall built to defend against intruders as a defensive weapon. Restored in the Ming period to keep out the Europeans. -
Rebellions Broke Out
In the Ming Dynasty, taxes were being raised because defense efforts were draining their treasury. Also crops were failing. Hardships fore=med and under weak rulers corruption broke out. Many rebellions erupted. -
Ming China Ends
The Ming Dynasty began to decline due to corruption and rebellions. While weak, the Manchu saw the opportunity to take the capital. When they had lost their capital, the emperoro fled and the Qing Dynasty began. -
Manchu Sweeps Into Bejing
The people from to the north of Ming China saw weakness in the Ming Dynasty and took the opportunity to take the capital. -
Qing Dynasty Begins Rule
The last Ming emperor killed himself to avoid capture after the Ming capital was conquered by the Manchu. The Manchu people came from the northwest, and after the defeated the Ming Dynasty, they began their own dynasty and gave it a chinese name. The Qing Dynasty. Queue: a braid on the back of the males in the Qing Dynasty -
Kangxi Begins Rule
The Qing dynasty flourished under Kangxi. He ruled from 1661- 1772. He reduced taxes for lower classes and expanded the empire. He was also a great supporter of intellectual and the Jesuits. -
Cao Zhan Wrote Dream of the Red Chamber
A Qing writer wrote the novel, Dream of the Red Chamber. It is the tale of a upper-class family who faced a decline. It is considered China's greatest novel. -
Quianlong Begins Rule
Gradnson of Kangxi, he expanded the empire and ruled during a population growth. The agriculture continued to rise, and the economy was thriving as well due to foreign and local trade. -
Chinese Population Growth
The Chinese population grew to 3 million due to agricultural production on the rise. This was under the rule of Qianlong. -
Lord George Macartney Goes to China
He was a european who ventured to China to try to change the isolation policies. he Chinese saw their goods superior to his and denied his requests. Also he was told to show respect to Quianlong by bowing and refused; he was sent away immediately. Kowtowing: showing respect for the emperor by kneeling before them and touching the forehead to the ground nine times. -
Qing Dynasty Ends Rule
The Qing Dynasty falls due to their isolation. They secluded themselves from the rest of the world and in the 1800s when the Europeans attempted to open China's closed society the Dynasty began to fall. The Qing Dynasty couldn't keep up with the advancements in Europe.
