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A Mongol named Temujin conquered many of his rivals and united all of of the clans.
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The Mongols emerge from central Asia. They are a ruthless, militaristic, nomadic society and feared so much that often villages would surrender before they arrived. Siege Warfare: The surrounding of a town by an army attempting to capture it
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Temujin took the title of Genghis Khan, or "Universal Ruler", of the Mongols.
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Genghis Khan dies and his land is split up between his grandsons.
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One of Genghis Khan's grandsons conqueres Russia with the help of the Golden Horde. Golden Horde: a Mongol army that was established by Batu and created the northern sector of the Mongol Empire.
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Kublai Khan becomes the great "Universal Ruler" of the Mongol Empire.
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An Italian explorer, named Marco Polo, and his father traveled to China. He apparently met the Kublai Khan on his travels.
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Kublai Khan defeats the last of the Song Ruler, therefore ending the Song Dynasty.
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Kublai Khan tries to invade Japan twice, but is defeated both times. The fiirst time is because his navy is not prepared enough, and the second time is because the kamikaze, a massive typhoon, destroyed much of the Mongol fleet. Kamikaze: Japanese for divine wind, it was a storm that is said to have saved Japan from Mongol fleets under Kublai Khan
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Kublai Khan dies.
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Marco Polo returns to Venice to tell his stories of the Chinese to the rest of the Europeans.
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The Black Death spreads from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Black Death: The great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe in the 14th century.
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Rebellions begin to pop up around China against the Yuan dynasty.
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Rebel armies, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, defeat the Mongols and become the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang becomes the first emperor.
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Zhu Yuanzhang, now known as Hongwu, dies
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Yonglo, Hongwu's son, rules the Ming dynasty.
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Chinese explorer Zheng begins to lead voyages around the Indian Ocean, almost reaching Africa.
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Yonglo moves the campital to Bejing, into the Forbidden City. Forbiden City: Built by Yonglo to house the royal family in their own little "city" inside of the city of Bejing. It is 7,800,000 square feet.
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Yonglo's rule ends.
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After seven voyages, the explorations led by Zheng end.
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The Great Wall of China is built by the Mings. Great Wall of China: A wall built on the historical northern Chinese borer to keep enemies out. It is 13,171 miles long.
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Europeans traders and Christian missionaries arrive in China
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New crops, such as corn and sweet potatos, from American reach China
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Matteo Ricci intoduces European math and science to China, and is impressed by the Grand Canal. Junks: The boats used by the Chinese on the Grand Canal.
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The Ming dynasty begns to decline
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High taxes and crop failure lead to rebellions
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The Ming Dynasty ends
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Manchu, people from north of China, took the capital and formed the Qing dynasty
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The Manchu remain seprate from the Chinese. They are not allowed to marry Chinese, Manchu women are forbidden to bind their feet, and Chinese males must wear their hair Manchu style in a queue. Queue: The hair in the front is shaved off, and the rest is braided in the back.
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Kangxi becomes the emperor and reduces taxes, and expanded empire.
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Kangxi dies
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Qianlong becomes the emperor of the Qing dynasty
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The population in China becomes 300+ million
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Lord George Macartney tries to trade with China but is sent away for not bowing, or kowtowing. Kowtowing: The Chinese way of bowing, where you kneel and place your forhead on the floor.
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European efforts to open Chinese society would destroy the Qing dynasty.
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The Qing Dynasty ends
