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Dec 1, 1100
Temujin Conquers Rivals
Temujin is a powerful khan, or chief, of a Mongol clan. He begins to conquer his rivals and attempts to unite the Mongol clans under one ruler. -
Jan 1, 1200
Mongols Emerge
The Mongols emerge as a fearsome fighting force in Central Asia and they begin conquering territory. Their superb strategic tactics and brutality allow them to conquer more land and people by fear alone. -
Jan 1, 1206
Temujin Unites Mongols
Temujin accomplishes his goal of conquering all of China and uniting the Mongols into one cohesive fighting force. When he takes the title of Great Khan, he takes the name Genghis Khan. -
Jan 1, 1207
Genghis Khan Conquers Parts of Asia
They fight against the Chinese and the Turks using gunpowder and siege warfare. The Mongols take many cities in all throughout Asia. siege warfare- a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault -
Jan 1, 1227
Genghis Khan Dies
He leaves his dynasty to four of his heirs, each ruling over a khanate, or region. -
Jan 1, 1235
Mongols Take On China
They are very resilient and determined to take control of the remaining parts of China that are not under their control. They wish to conquer more than their one khanate. -
Jan 1, 1236
The Golden Horde Takes on Russia
Under Genghis khan's grandson Batu, the Mongols conquer Moscow, destroy Kiev and storm both Poland and Hungary. Their conquest comes to a halt when the Great Khan dies. Golden Horde- the Tartar and Mongol army, led by the descendants of genghis Khan, that overran Asia and parts of eastern Europe in 13th century. -
Jan 1, 1260
Kublai Khan Takes the Lead
Kublai becomes the Great Khan of the Mongols after the death of the previous leader. However, his power is limited to the khanate of the Great Khan and he yearns for more. -
Jan 1, 1279
Song Dynasty is Defeated
The last Song ruler is defeated and the Dynasty finally crumbles after years of pressure from the Mongols. Kublai Khan declares himself emperor. Song Dynasty- an imperial dynasty of China from 960-1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy -
Jan 1, 1290
Mongols Invade Japan (and fail)
Kublai Khan leads the Mongols into many failed invasions of southeast Asia to expand the territory of his empire. Several thousand people are killed in battle. kamikaze-
(then) the winds/storms that destroyed the Mongol fleet when they were attacking Japan; the brutal storm convinced the Mongols to never come back (now) - a Japanese aircraft loaded with explosives and making a deliberate suicidal crash on an enemy target -
Jan 1, 1294
Kublai Khan Dies
After his death, turmoil takes over the empire and the Yuan Dynasty is greatly weakened. -
Jan 1, 1295
Marco Polo Returns to Venice
Marco Polo returns to Venice with his father. Soon thereafter, Polo is captured as a prisoner of war. -
Jan 1, 1300
The Black Death Spreads Westward
The Silk Roads provide a secure way for goods and people to travel, but they also spread disease. The Black Death spread via the Silk Road from Asia through the Middle East to Europe. Black Death- a great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe in the 14th century -
Jan 1, 1300
Chinese Regions Rebel
Rapidly rising taxes create dissatisfaction and incontent people. Some regions of China decide to rebel against their ruler and lead rebel armies against the Mongols. -
Jan 1, 1368
Fall of the Mongol Empire / Rise of the Ming Empire
The Yuan Dynasty falls due to the continued attacks and the Mongols escape to Manchuria. With the Mongols gone, there are no longer any foreign rulers. A peasant named Zhu Yuanzhang heads the final attack and founds the Ming Dynasty after the fall of the Mongol Empire. -
Jan 1, 1398
Hongwu Dies
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Jan 1, 1400
Forbidden City is Built
The city is built for China's Ming emperor and his servants. It is lavish and strong, with many extraordinary buildings and architectural works. It is located in the capital of Bejing. -
Jan 1, 1402
Yonglu Becomes Emperor
Yonglu, Hongwu's son, becomes the ruler of the Ming Empire until 1424. He moves the capital to Bejing and builds the Forbbiden City. Forbidden City- An area of Beijing, China, that contained the former imperial palaces, to which entry was forbidden to all except imperial family members. -
Jan 1, 1405
Zheng He Begins Traveling Around the Indian Ocean
Zheng He is a Chinese Muslim who leads seven voyages around the Indian Ocean with fleets of as many as 300 ships. Gifts from China to places around the Indian Ocean bring tributes from several other leaders to China. junks- a flat-bottomed sailing vessel typical in China and the East Indies, with a prominent stem, a high stern, and lugsails. -
Jan 1, 1433
Zheng He's Voyages End
A new emperor takes the throne and demands an end to sea voyages because they are expensive and he does not see their benefit. Instead, the new emperor focuses on strengthening the frontiers. -
Jan 1, 1500
New Crops Come to China
Corn and sweet potatoes from the Americas arrive in China and thrive under the agricultural succes of the Ming period. -
Jan 1, 1500
Ming Restrict Trading
Foreign traders are frowned upon and are unable to legally trade in most places at most times. However, many traders become smugglers and hold a thriving black market. They isolate themselves from foreigners because of the arrival of Europeans and Christian missionaries. The Chinese refuse to allow the different cultures to change theirs, and they fight to maintain tradition. -
Dec 1, 1500
Ming Dynasty Begins to Decline
After numerous impotent rulers, the Ming Dynasty begins to weaken and becomes corrupt. In an effort to strengthen the defense, the treasury is raided and taxes are raised. High taxes, wek rulers,and an agricultural failure bring about many rebellions in China. -
Jan 1, 1538
Matteo Ricci Arrives in China
He is an Italian Jesuit priest and he gains a lot of influence in the Chinese society by learning the language and adapting to the traditions there. After he gains access to the Ming court, he introduces European mathematics and science. -
Jan 1, 1538
Ming Face Mongol Attacks
The Mongols begin to attack parts of China, so they rebuild the Great Wall of China and strengthen their defenses by lengthening the Great Wall. the Great Wall of China- a fortified wall in northern China, extending some 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Kansu province to the Yellow Sea north of Beijing. -
The Manchu Take Beijing
Invaders from Manchuria invade and conquer the capital of the Ming Empire, Beijing. The current Ming Emperor commits suicide to avoid imprisonment. -
Qing (Ching) Empire is Formed
After the death of the Ming emperor, the Manchu take over and form the Qing Empire. This empire will be the last dynasty of imperial rule in China. -
Manchu Adopt Chinese Customs
Because they are foreigners, the Manchu attempt to appease the disgruntled Chinese by adopting their customs and much of the Ming government. They have many Chinese officers and keep Confucian ethics. However, they do not allow Manchurians to marry Chinese, and they ban foot binding for the Manchus too. queue- a hairstyle typically worn by the Manchu; a braid down the back -
Kangxi Becomes Ruler
Kangxi becomes the Qing emperor from 1661 through 1772. He brings a period of growth in China by reducing taxes and expanding the empire. -
"Dream of the Red Chamber" is Published
During the Qing period literature rises and many stories and novels are published. One of these is the "Dream of the Red Chamber" (written by Cao Zhan) that is written about an upper-class Chinese family and its decline. It is largely considered China's greatest novel. -
Qianlong Becomes Ruler
Qianlong, Kangxi's grandson, brings a huge era of development and growth to the Qing Dynasty through 1796. He expands the empire, increases agricultural production, increases the population, and improves transportation. -
Population Surge
Under Quianlong the Chinese population skyrockets to 300 million people due to the agricultural success and the overabundance of food and supplies. -
Lord George Macartney Arrives in China
Lord George Macartney, a British official, comes to China intent on expanding Chinese trading. The Chinese scoff at his "goods" and he refuses to show the proper show of respect to the emperor, so they send him away without a second thought. kowtowing- kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom. -
Europeans Attempt to End Isolation in China
The Europeans try to open up the mysterious closed society of China, but fail. However, these prying efforts bring about the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
