Yuan Characteristics
- Mongolians
- Forerunners to Western imperialism
- Destructive reputation
- Chinese military not organized but Mongols were-especially mounted
- Khubilai Khan as first leader-"Origins"
- Ghengis Khan unified tribal groups of Mongols
- Buddhist, Tibetan influence develops
- Mixed military and government
- Lack of strong leadership overall
- Outsiders to help rule
- Minority and many illiterate
- Increased corruption
- Caravan trade continued
- Some cultural flowering as many lost jobs and turned to other pursuits
- Second Grand Canal system
- Commercial growth, increased use of paper money
- Role of Zhu xi--practical world and moral contemplation, focus on the individual
- Capital at Beijing
- Occupied all of China for less than 100 years
- Multi-ethnic and lingual
- Tried to conquer areas outside China
- Decline in use of examination system
- Growth in local control and administration
- Nomadic heritage continues to be a problem
- Moral self-cultivation of the individual to preserve the social order
- Little focus on agricultural developments or improvements