A Close Reading of the Yuan Dynasty's 160 Years

In 1206, the Great Mongol State was founded. In 1271, Kublai Khan changed its name to the Great Yuan. Under the Yuan dynasty, the unified multi-ethnic state was further consolidated, and its territory exceeded that of previous dynasties. It introduced new political institutions that had a profound influence on Yuan society, the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the modern era. The commodity economy and overseas trade flourished, and Beijing and Quanzhou became international metropolises in the true sense of the word. Culture became more secular, while freedom of religion broadened cultural exchange.

Many readers who only skim history like to describe this regime, founded by a nomadic people, as brutal, corrupt, and dark. It cannot be denied that the Mongol Empire conquered East and West by force, bringing war to many regions. But step outside the logic of an agrarian culture and take a broader view: this empire conquered Asia and Europe and connected East and West, ushering in the world's first truly globalized era and accelerating the process of worldwide integration. This book offers a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire from political, military, cultural, and economic perspectives, presenting readers with a complete, multifaceted picture of the Yuan dynasty.