How did the rule of Genghis Khan and his decendents impact China
The Yuan Dynasty, established by the descendants of Genghis Khan, was a period marked by significant technological and cultural advancements. Notable progress included the creation of the Shoushi Calendar by astronomer Guo Shoujing, aligning closely with the modern Gregorian calendar.
Genghis Khan began the conquest of China in 1211, although died before he was able to complete his victory. The Mongolians, however, continued their advance in 1250 under the rule of Kublai Khan and Möngke Khan, Genghis Khan's descendants, and commenced the Yuan Dynasty.
Later, the Yuan government would embrace policies of discrimination and oppression to preserve the position of Mongolian nobility, dividing the national population into four ranks, the Mongolian race being the most respected, followed by the Semu people. Next was the Northern Han nationality, and finally the Southern Han people
This caused the last two grades, the Northern Han and Southern Han people to face discrimination in many ways. These policies were greatly unpopular, and fueled many national conflicts.
This, combined with a widespread, unsolved famine due to crop failure, commenced the Red-Turban Rebelling. The leader of the uprising, Zhu Yuanshang, inherited the throne in 1368, founding the Ming Dynasty, and terminating the Yuan Dynasty.
Trade flourished during the Mid-Yuan Dynasty. Business activity between Europe and Asia prospered due to smooth communication between the east and west. Printing techniques and gunpowder were passed from China to the west. China, at the same time was also being introduced to the west.
The thriving business and trade, as well as the circulation of paper money made the Yuan Empire one of the most populous and wealthy countries in the world.
Because of this, many foreign businessmen and ambassadors sought after long-term stay in China, Italian traveler Marco Polo being one of them. Eventually Polo would write the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which spoke about his 17-year experience in China. This, ultimately allowed Europe to grow aware of China.
Kublai Khan encouraged the traditional culture of the Han nationality, which focused on Confucianism.
Kublai Khan ordered the
construction of Confucian temples,
the restoration of academies. the
reinstatement of Confucian ceremonies
at court, the establishment of the Imperial
Academy, and the education of the children
of Mongolian officials and officers with the
Han culture.
Outstanding progress in technology and art was made during the Yuan Dynasty
Huang Daopo, a cotton textile manufacturer improved and promoted the use to the weaving machine and spinning wheel, as well as the cotton textile technique, which caused a large amount of cotton cloth production in China
Yuan Qu, a popular verse form from the Yuan Dynasty, is credited as the origin of modern Chinese opera. Yuan Qu's masterpieces include Injustice to Dou E by Guan Hanqing and Romance of the West Chamber by Wang Shifu
Astronomer Guo Shoujing invents the Shoushi Calendar, in which it is calculated that there are over 365.2425 days in a year, this calculation matching with the current Gregorian calendar.
The Yuan Dynasty unified most of China,
as, prior to this, China had been, for more that 300 years, a country of separate states
The unification of China led to the enhancement of communication between different ethnic minorities. In doing so, they brought their unique culture and art, as well as techniques of production, which enriched the economic and social life of people living in the central plains.
A number of Han people flowed to the residential areas of the ethnic minorities. Taking the advanced agricultural and handicraft techniques with them, the Han people contributed much to the exploitation of the frontiers.