Mongol Rule in China
Kublai Khan had always been very interested in China and culture. During his reign as the Great Khan, he also moved the capital from Mongolia to the present day Beijing. Furthermore, the Mongols tried to govern without changing much of the Chinese traditions or pressing their nomadic lifestyle on the Chinese. However, the outcome was different.
The Mongol overlords stood aloof from their subjects and furthermore marriage between Chinese and Mongols were forbidden. Chinese were forbidden to learn the Mongol language. Mongols did not involve native Chinese people in administration or other public service occupations, instead brought foreign administrator. Assimilation to Chinese cultural traditions were resisted and the privileges Confucian scholars enjoyed before were ended. Instead, Confucian education and examination system were dismantled.
Even though Mongols were also deeply influenced by the Chinese culture during that time, also a rich array of cultures developed in China. Due to increasing interest of Europeans in exploring the possibilities of trade, many Europeans were going to China by the sea route. Kublai Khan welcomed missionaries and thus, Chinese were forced to interact with the West. For example, a Franciscan, John of Montecorvino built a church in the capital and converted many people to Christianity. At this time many Chinese converted to Islam, Oman Catholicism, Tibetan Buddhism, and also native Chinese Taoism was existent.
The Mongol overlords stood aloof from their subjects and furthermore marriage between Chinese and Mongols were forbidden. Chinese were forbidden to learn the Mongol language. Mongols did not involve native Chinese people in administration or other public service occupations, instead brought foreign administrator. Assimilation to Chinese cultural traditions were resisted and the privileges Confucian scholars enjoyed before were ended. Instead, Confucian education and examination system were dismantled.
Even though Mongols were also deeply influenced by the Chinese culture during that time, also a rich array of cultures developed in China. Due to increasing interest of Europeans in exploring the possibilities of trade, many Europeans were going to China by the sea route. Kublai Khan welcomed missionaries and thus, Chinese were forced to interact with the West. For example, a Franciscan, John of Montecorvino built a church in the capital and converted many people to Christianity. At this time many Chinese converted to Islam, Oman Catholicism, Tibetan Buddhism, and also native Chinese Taoism was existent.