China Civ Lecture 11: Yuan and Mongol rule

Temujin / Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire who united steppe groups and launched extensive Eurasian conquests.

Mongol Empire

Vast transcontinental empire connecting Eurasian regions through conquest, mobility, administration, and exchange.

Khubilai Khan

Mongol ruler who founded the Yuan dynasty in 1271 and completed the conquest of Southern Song.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol-led dynasty ruling China from 1271 to 1368, combining Chinese institutions with Inner Asian imperial practices.

Multiethnic Yuan Governance

Administrative practices distinguishing population groups and incorporating Mongol, Central Asian, and Chinese traditions.

Phagpa Lama

Tibetan Buddhist religious leader influential at Khubilai's court and associated with imperial religious legitimacy.

Tibetan Buddhism in Yuan

Important source of religious authority and universal kingship for Mongol rulers.

Phagspa Script

Writing system commissioned under Khubilai to represent multiple languages of the Mongol Empire.

Aniko

Nepalese architect and artist associated with Yuan Buddhist art and the White Stupa in Beijing.

Jamal al-Din

Muslim astronomer whose work exemplifies scientific exchange between Islamic and Yuan worlds.

Sino-Muslim Exchange

Transmission of astronomy, medicine, food, and geographic knowledge through Yuan-era Eurasian connections.

Correct Principles of Food and Drink

Yuan dietary and medical text reflecting diverse culinary and medical influences.

Kangnido Map

1402 Korean map preserving Yuan-era geographic knowledge and an expanded Eurasian worldview.

Red Turban Rebellion

Mid-14th-century uprising combining religious prophecy and social grievances, contributing to Yuan collapse.