Mongols take China

Hello, I am Zhen and today I will being telling you about the Mongols taking over China. The Mongols first started off as a nomadic group living in rural areas of Central Asia. In the early 1200s Mongol chieftain took the name of Genghis Kahn, or the "universal ruler." Genghis Kahn, originally named Temujin, was known for being very ambitious and courageous. Genghis's life was rough from the beginning. At the young age of nine, his father was poisned by a rival Mongol clan. And by the age of fifteen, he was a taken prisoner. After being let free, he was determined to get his revenge. Once the Mongols took over China they inforced very strict military discipline and demanded absolute loyalty. They quickly developed a highly skilled army and had the best horseman in the world. Genghis accomplished many extraordinary things during his rule. But sadly, he died during the conquest. After Genghis, Mongols were not oppressive leaders. He very much respected artisans, artists, and scholars. He even listened to the ideas of Confucians, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Zoroastrians. Between 1200s-1300s the Mongols took control over the Silk Road, and not longer after trade began to flourish. Even the cultural exchanges increased in food, inventions, tools, and ideas spread along the protected trade routes. It took seventy more years for Kublai Kahn to conquer southern China. In the year 1279, the Song Empire was conquered. Not long after the Song Empire was conquered, Kublai Kahn declared that only Mongols could serve in the military. He also reserved the highest government jobs for Mongols only. In 1279 A.D. the Yuan Dynasty begins. A mix up of Chinese and foreign customs arouse in China. Once the Yuan Dynasty started, Kublai got right down to business. He turned Beijing into a walled city, extended the Grand Canal to his new capital, and made the shipment of rice and other foods easier. In 1294 Kublai Kahn died, which led to the decline of the Yuan Dynasty.