The Yuan Dynasty

Once he had captured Zhondu, Genghis Khan lost interest in China. He preferred to return to the steppes of Mongolia to plot his next conquest. Many years later, though, Genghis Khan's grandson, Kublai, returned to China to rule. In 1271, Kublai Khan declared himself Emperor of China, and named his empire the Yuan Dynasty.

Like the Han, the Tang, and the Song dynasties before them, the Jin had trained a class of highly educated individuals to fill powerful government positions. During Kublai Khan's rule, these men were mostly prevented from serving as administrators in the government. They turned to the arts as an outlet for creative expression. The zaju style of theater, which began in the Song era, became very popular during the Yuan Dynasty. It was a complex form of poetic musical drama that blended poetry, song, gymnastics, music, and set design. Zaju dramas were the forerunner of today’s Chinese opera.

Learn more about the early Yuan Dynasty and its flowering of the arts by studying and clicking each image.

The Jin Dynasty was not culturally advanced and therefore had no achievements to leave behind.
The Mongols burned the city to the ground as an example to the rest of China.
The Jin hid their artifacts from the rest of the world, fearful that others would steal them.

Genghis Khan used the fate of Beijing to discourage other parts of China from resisting conquest.

Kublai was Genghis's grandson.
Kublai was Genghis's firstborn son.
Kublai was Genghis's brother.

As Genghis's grandson, Kublai became heir to his vast empire.

He fought and won a civil war in Mongolia.
Genghis Khan handed over his crown in a public ceremony.
The Mongols elected him after his father died.

Kublai Khan, though Genghis's heir, still had to fight hard to maintain power.

to convince the other rulers of Mongolia that he was in China to stay
to remind the Chinese of a previous dynasty with the same name
to calm the fears of native Chinese that Kublai was not committed to China

Kublai hoped that giving his empire a Chinese name would persuade the Chinese to accept his rule.

He did not like the sound of the Chinese language and wanted to keep it out of his palace.
He never really trusted the Chinese and was afraid that power would slide back to them.
He had many friends who were foreign and who needed positions of power.

Kublai suspected that the Chinese would take away his power if they had a chance.

Questions answered correctly:

Questions answered incorrectly:

Who actually ruled China once Genghis Khan conquered it?

Why is there little left to mark the achievements of the Jin Dynasty in Beijing?

How was Kublai Khan related to Genghis Khan?

How did Kublai Khan become the Great Khan?

Why did Kublai call his empire the Yuan Dynasty?

Why did Kublai choose foreigners as advisers and administrators instead of Chinese?

Summary