Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis, assumed the title of Great Khan in 1260. Theoretically the Great Khan ruled the entire Mongol Empire, but realistically, the empire had been split into the khanates, and other descendants of Genghis ruled other places in Eurasia. Kublai was focused more on extending the power and range of his own khanate, than anything else. To begin though, he had to fufill the goal of his grandfather, and conquer all of China.

 

The Chinese were able to hold off attacks from the Mongols for a little while, but his armies finally overwhelmed them in 1279. Kublai became China's new emperor, and founded his own dynasty called the Yuan Dynasty. This dynasty only lasted a little less than a century until it was overthrown in 1368. Even with a short time power, the dynasty was still prosperous. Kublai was able to unite China, which had not been done in over three-hundred years. Control imposed by the Mongols across Asia was able to open up China to great foreign contacts and trade. Finally, Kublai and his successors wer able to tolerate Chinese culture, and made few differences to their government. Kublai was different from his Mongol ancestors though. He abandoned the Mongolian steppes for China, and did not share his ancestors' dislike of the settled life. As well as maintaining a very beautiful summer palace at Shangdu, he also built a new square-walled capital at the site of modern day Beijing. He built this palace to enhance his own prestige, but it also meant something more to him. Moing the capital from Mongolia to China was a big sign that showed that he was inteding to make his mark as emperor.

 

After his conquering of China, Kublai tried to extend into Japan in 1274, and again in 1281. He sent huge fleets against Japan, and one of his fleets was the largest seaborne invasion until WWII. Mongol ways were not able to work in a civilization like China's. They had little in common with the Chinese, and continued to keep their seperate identity. Mongols lived apart from the Chinese, and obeyed completely different laws. Chinese were kept out of higher government offices.

 

Kublai was an able leader. He restored the Grand Canal and extended it 135 miles north to Beijing, as well as paving a highway that ran 1,100 miles, from Hangzhou to Beijing. These routes ensured the north a moderate supply of grain and other goods from the southern lands. Foreign trade increased rapidly under Kublai rule. This was due to Mongol Peace, which made caravan routes across Central Asia safe for travel and trade. Traders would transport Chinese silk and porcelain, over the Silk Roads and other routes. Kublai encouraged trade even more by inviting foreign merchants to visit China. The most famous person to visit China of that time was a young Venetian trader named Marco Polo. He traveled on the Silk Roads, and arrived at the court around 1275. Polo served Khan for 17 years, and in 1292, he decided to travel back home. During a war against a rival city of Venice, he was captured and put into prison. During his time, he told people who would listen, about his travels in China. He told them about their fabulous cities, fantastic wealth, and precious stones, and pearls that they got from India.
 

During Kublai's last few years, weaknesses would appear in Mongol rule. Attempting to further expand his empire, Kublai sent several expeditons into Southeast Asia. His armies suffered many defeats, and heavy spending on stupid wars, public works , and on the luxuries of the Yuan court made the treasury upset, and created resentment among the overtaxed Chinese. Kublai died in 1294, and after his death, the dynasty began to disappear. Family members of his were arguing daily about who would rule. Once, during an eight-year period, four different people took the throne. In the 1300s many rebellions broke out in China. Chinese had long resented their Mongol rulers, and the Mongol humiliation would only increase under Kublai's successors. In 1368, Chinese rebels were able to overthrow the Mongols. By the collapse of the Yuan, the entire Mongol Empire had disintegrated.