Answer the following in detail

Who were the Mongols? How did they rule China?

The Sung dynasty was leading China before they fell to the Mongol invasion. At the time, a certain section of society prospered (rich merchants, landowners, and officials), however, the peasants were very poor. At this crucial point, two invasions from the north led to the fall of the Sung dynasty.

• The Mongols were nomads and herdsmen who entered Europe through the steppes of Asiatic Russia. They were excellent military men, and were led by Chengiz Khan, a brilliant military strategist.

• When the Mongols invaded China, they had already conquered Persia and the bulk of Central Asia. They established their rule in China under the name of the Yuan dynasty, and Mangu Khan, the Great Khan in 1252 AD, appointed Chengiz Khan the Governor of China.

• Mongol rule in Eurasia meant that Chinese technological developments spread very fast to the west which was comparatively technologically backward. Visitors to the Mongol court in Beijing (such as Marco Polo) were impressed, but the peasants were still poor.

• Religious sects and secret societies began to form and revolt. One of these was a rebel group known as the ‘Red Turbans’, led by Chu Yuan Chang. He captured the Mongol capital at Beijing and declared himself Emperor.

Therefore, Mongol rule in China was crushed, and the Ming dynasty came to power.