Yuan dynasty

The Yuan dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China during the late 1200s and 1300s. It was founded by Kublai Khan, a Mongol ruler and the grandson of Genghis Khan. The dynasty officially began in 1271 and ended in 1368. It was the first time that all of China was ruled by a non-Han Chinese group.

The Mongols came from the grasslands north of China. They were skilled horse riders and soldiers. Under Genghis Khan, the Mongols built a large empire across Asia and parts of Europe. Kublai Khan continued this expansion. After defeating the Southern Song dynasty, he controlled most of China. He then declared the start of the Yuan dynasty.

Kublai Khan ruled as emperor and set up his capital in Dadu, which is modern-day Beijing. An emperor is a ruler of an empire, meaning a large group of lands under one government. The Yuan government used many Chinese systems, such as written records and laws. At the same time, Mongol traditions were kept in the court and army.

Society during the Yuan dynasty was divided into groups. Mongols were placed at the top. Other non-Chinese peoples from Central Asia were below them. Han Chinese were placed in lower groups. This system affected jobs, laws, and taxes. Even so, many Chinese officials continued to work in local government roles.

Trade grew during the Yuan dynasty. Roads and canals were repaired. Trade routes connected China with Central Asia and Europe. One famous visitor was Marco Polo, a traveler from Venice. He lived in Yuan China for many years and later wrote about what he saw. His writings helped spread knowledge of China to Europe.

The Yuan dynasty weakened in the mid-1300s. Floods, disease, and high taxes caused unrest. Rebellions broke out in many areas. In 1368, rebel forces captured Dadu. The last Yuan emperor fled north. A new Chinese-led dynasty, the Ming dynasty, then took control of China.