The Yuan Dynasty

Kublai Khan Establishes Yuan Dynasty

Jan 1, 1271

In the year of 1771 Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, officially proclaimed the Yuan Dynasty. He did this tradidtionally by claiming the mandate of heavan. Before Kubali Khan established the Yuan dynasty, his grandfather, Genghis Khan, had tried to counquer all of China but did not fully succeed. When Kublai stepped up to throne, he conquered the rest of China including the Song dynasty who ruled before them and started the Yuan dynasty.

Kublai Khan issued paper banknotes called, Chao

Jan 1, 1273

Kublai Khan was said to be the most famous chinese issuer of paper money, also called banknotes. Kubali Khan encouraged the use of paper money by demanding that traders accept it or else they would be killed.

First unsuccessful Naval expedition against Japan

Jan 1, 1274

The Naval expedition of 1274 was brought about by the anger of the mongols towards the the Japanese power officials. When the mongols had traveled over to Japan in hopes to take over their land, Japanese power did not submit. Instead one of the mongol ambassadors sent over to Japan was severely harmed. The mongols felt as if they needed revenge. The expedidtion failed because of harsh weather conditions and the mongols were not able to complete their mission.

Grand Canal of China in Beijing is renovated

Period: Jan 1, 1280 to Dec 31, 1289

Back around 1265, Kublai Khan made Beijing the capital of China. Beijing was always home to the Grand Canal of China but during the 1280's, Kublai Khan ordered the canal to be renovated. For the first time, the canal was built to connect Hangzhou and Beijing encouraging over land and sea trade. The Grand Canal also made European and Asian contacts easier.

Second unsuccessful naval expedition against Japan

Jan 1, 1281

After their unsuccessful attempt in 1274 to get back at Japan for a past event explained earlier, the mongols decided to try again in seeking their revenge on Japan with a much larger attack Once again, the mongols were stopped because of the treacherous weather. This time though, they were held back by a terrible typhoon, and forced to abandon their mission.

Mongols practiced debt slavery

Jan 1, 1290

By 1290, in all parts of the mongol empire, Mongol commoners were selling their children into slavery for money. The mongol commoners were very poor and had no other ways to pay off their debt unfortunately.

Kublai Forbade the Sale of the Mongols

Jan 1, 1291

Right after Mongol commoners started the practice of debt slavery, Kubali Khan realized it was damaging to the Mongol nation and forbade it. After Kubali Khan forbade this, Ilkhan Ghazan, a mongol in Persia, collected money to bring back Mongol slaves.

Tugh Temür Founded the Academy of the Pavilion of the Star of Literature

Apr 1, 1329

In the Spring of 1329, Tugh Temür founded this academy in hopes to encourage Chinese learning and early Chinese pracices such as confucianism studies. The academy taught children of parents of high nobilty and young people important to the Chinese such as members of the kesig. The acedemy is also known for the amount of books that were published and produced.

The Yuang Dynasty Ends

Jan 1, 1368

By the 1330's, many people across China were suffering from the Black Death, a sickening plaque. Millions of people died causing the empire to slowly crumble beneath itself. In 1350, The Red Turbans, an army under the control of Chu Yuan-chang, a rebellion, captured many Chinese cities. The Yuan Dynasty finally led to instability in China showing that they had lost the Mandate of Heaven. In 1268,Chu Yuan-chang had fully conquered China and declared himself as emporor starting the Ming dynasty.