The Yuan Dynasty（1271–1368）was a r egime constituted by the Mongolians.It was the first regime governing the whole China by a minority. The Mongolians is an ancient nomad people.In the 12th century，Chief Temujin was made the Khan by all the tribes and was named Genghis Khan.The Mongolians grandually became powerful.It destroyed Western Xia（1038–1227）in 1227 and destroyed Jin（1115–1234）in 1234.It was ready to unite China.After Genghis Khan died，Ogedei，Mongke，and Khublai successively held over the Khan.Their territory enlarged and they established the Mongolian empire constituted of four khanates.Their territory included today’s Russia，most part of Europe，the east bank of the Mediterranean Sea，the valleys of the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates，Persia，and the northwest part of India.The four khanates were actually a combo under military conquest.They have developed into independent countries.
In 1271，Genghis Khan’s grandson Khublai established the Yuan Dynasty in Dadu and was named the FirstEmperor of Yuan.From then on，Beijing has become thepolitical，economic，and cultural center in China for the next 700 years.In 1276，the Yuan troops attacked the capital of Southern Song，Lin’an（Hangzhou）and united China.The territory of Yuan reached Mongolia and Siberia to the north，the South China Sea to the south，Tibet and Yunnan to the southwest，west Xingjiang to the northwest，and exterior Xinggan Mountains and Okhotsk Sea to the northeast.The area reached 12 million square kilometers.China’s domain was laid out until the Qing Dynasty.The Mongolians joined China as a minority group since then.
After Kublai united China，he had twice conquered Japan，Annam（north Vietnam），and Burma.He had made Korea，Burma，and Annam to become dependencies of the Yuan Dynasty.Domestically，he devided people into four classes，the Mongolians，Color-eyed people（including Muslins and people in the western territory），Han in the north，and Han in the south.The status of Han people was very low.Han people became the target for Mongolians and Color-eyed people to enslave and depredate.Therefore，conflicts among the ethnic groupsbecame a main thread of warfare，especially when the regime was first established and the end of the Yuan Dynasty.
From the Kublai reign，agriculture had developed to a great extent.Since Tonghui Canal was excavated from Beijing to Tongzhou，water transportation was developed.Due to paper currency issuance，domestic commerce became prosperous. Cotton planting in south China has become very popular，thus spinning developed accordingly.The handicraft industry and spinning technology developed rapidly.Huang Daopo was among a group of handicraft workers that brought cotton spinning technology to a higher level.Since Yuan Dynasty executed a rather open policy，ocean shipping and foreign trade developed.Quanzhou of Fujian became a major commercial port in the world.This promoted thecommunicationbetweenEuropeandChina.Economic progress brought alongthedevelopmentofhandicraftandcommercialtrade.The Yuan Dynasty became one of the richest countries in the world.
Science and technology，literature and art alsounderwent great progress during the Yuan Dynasty.Astronomy of the Yuan Dynasty was advanced in the world.Great astronomers existed such as Jamal al Din and Guo Shoujing.Jamal al Din made a globe which assmed the earth to be a round ball.Shoushi Calendar compiled by Guo Shoujing was the most advanced calendar in the world.The Agriculture Book compiled by Wang Zhen was an encyclopedia on agriculture that surpassed all the past works.Medicine was also at a very high level.The Muslin Prescription was a collection of all the accomplishments in Chinese history as well as medicines of different ethnic groups.Achievements in literature and arts cannot be ignored either.Guan Hanqing，Wang Shifu，Ma Zhiyuan and Ji Junxiang were representatives in Yuan drama which became a major literary form since Tang and Song poetry.Calligraphers and artists were outstanding as well，represented by Zhao Mengfu.