The Yuan dynasty was founded by Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, who in 1271 took a Chinese dynastic name for the Mongol empire and in 1279 completed the conquest of the Southern Song. It was the first dynasty to rule all of China that was established by a foreign people, and its capital Dadu stood on the site of modern Beijing. The Mongols kept many Chinese institutions but gave important posts to foreigners, such as the Venetian Marco Polo, whose account helped to inform Europe about China. Trade along the Silk Road flourished, and paper money was widely used. Famines, floods and peasant uprisings, together with disputes over succession, weakened the dynasty, and it was overthrown in 1368 by the rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, who founded the Ming.
Before and after
- 1270Glasses
- 1270Construction of Malbork Castle
- from 18 July 1270 to 30 October 1270Eighth Crusade
- from 1271 to 1272Ninth Crusade
- from 1271 to 1368Yuan dynasty
- from 1271 to 1295Marco Polo sets out for China
- from 3 March 1271 to 8 April 1271Fall of Krak des Chevaliers
- from 1272 to 1278War of the Cow
- 1272Rise of House of Bourbon
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- 802 CEConstruction of Angkor Wat
- from 2 February 962 CE to 6 August 1806Holy Roman Empire
- 1193Origins of Chernobyl
- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- 1373Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.