The Yuan Dynasty was established by the Mongols and ruled China from 1271 to 1368 CE. Their first emperor was Kublai Khan (r. 1260-1279 CE) who finally defeated the Song Dynasty which had reigned in China since 960 CE. Stability and peace within China brought a certain economic prosperity for some as Kublai and his successors promoted international trade which saw the now-unified country open up to the wider world. While there was peace in the western part of the Mongol Empire, Kublai launched two unsuccessful invasions of Japan and several others elsewhere in South East Asia. The Mongols' reign in China was finally ended due to a lethal cocktail of endless infighting amongst their leaders, inept and corrupt government which overspent and overtaxed, floods and famines. Peasant uprisings rumbled throughout the 14th century CE until one, led by the Red Turban Movement, toppled the Yuan and brought in a new regime, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE).
More about: Yuan DynastyDefinition
Timeline
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1206 - 1368The Mongol Empire rules in Central and East Asia.
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1260 - 1294Reign of Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire.
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1268Kublai Khan resumes the Mongol attacks on Song Dynasty China.
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1270Part of northern Korea is conquered by the Mongol Empire.
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1271 - 1368The Mongol Yuan Dynasty, founded by Kublai Khan, rules China.
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1274The first invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan fails.
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c. 1275 - 1292Marco Polo serves Kublai Khan in Mongol Yuan Dynasty China.
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28 Mar 1276Lin'an, the capital of the Song Dynasty, is captured by a Mongol army.
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1277The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty invade Burma.
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19 Mar 1279The Mongols complete their conquest of Song Dynasty China with victory at the naval battle at Yaishan.
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1281The second invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler/Yuan dynasty emperor Kublai Khan fails.
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1281The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty China invade Vietnam for a second time.
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1286The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty China re-invade Vietnam.
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1292A Mongol/Yuan Dynasty naval force attacks Java.
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1355Zhu Yuanzhang, the future Ming Hongwu Emperor, takes over the leadership of the rebel Red Turbans Movement.
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1356Zhu Yuanzhang, leader of the rebel Red Turbans Movement and future Ming Hongwu Emperor, takes control of Nanjing.
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1360Zhu Yuanzhang, future Ming Hongwu Emperor, defeats the rival rebel leader Chen Youliang at the battle of Poyang Lake.
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1367Zhu Yuanzhang, future Ming Hongwu Emperor, defeats the rival rebel leader Zhang Shicheng.
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1368 - 1644Reign of the Ming Dynasty in China.
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23 Jan 1368Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, declares himself Emperor of China, taking the reign name Hongwu.
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1370The last Yuan Dynasty emperor, Toghon Temur (r. 1333-1368 CE), dies at Karakorum.
