Changes

A tiered system of social status was implemented based on ethnicity, with Mongols at the top, other nomadic peoples along with Jews, Persians, Syrians, and so forth (色目人, ''sèmù rén'') next, followed by Han Chinese, Koreans, Jurchens, and Khitans from northern China, lumped together under the category of ''Hanren'' (漢人). The bottom class were those from southern China, known as ''nanren'' ("southern people") or ''manzi'' (蠻子, "southern barbarians"). who comprised roughly 80 percent of the population of the Yuan Empire.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations, Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 226.</ref> Han Chinese throughout the empire were forbidden from riding horses, possessing firearms, speaking the Mongol language, or intermarrying with Mongols. Many Chinese scholar-officials retreated to the countryside, excluded from government service, and philosophically opposed to serving under barbarian invaders in any case. The [[Chinese imperial examinations|Confucian civil service exams]] were discontinued after the Mongol invasion, not being brought back into use until a generation later, in [[1315]].

A tiered system of social status was implemented based on ethnicity, with Mongols at the top, other nomadic peoples along with Jews, Persians, Syrians, and so forth (色目人, ''sèmù rén'') next, followed by Han Chinese, Koreans, Jurchens, and Khitans from northern China, lumped together under the category of ''Hanren'' (漢人). The bottom class were those from southern China, known as ''nanren'' ("southern people") or ''manzi'' (蠻子, "southern barbarians"). who comprised roughly 80 percent of the population of the Yuan Empire.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations, Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 226.</ref> Han Chinese throughout the empire were forbidden from riding horses, possessing firearms, speaking the Mongol language, or intermarrying with Mongols. Many Chinese scholar-officials retreated to the countryside, excluded from government service, and philosophically opposed to serving under barbarian invaders in any case. The [[Chinese imperial examinations|Confucian civil service exams]] were discontinued after the Mongol invasion, not being brought back into use until a generation later, in [[1315]].

The dynasty practiced considerable religious tolerance, however; Tibetan Buddhism was adopted as the religion of the Court and of the state, but Nestorian Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and other religions were well tolerated within the empire. This brought considerable cultural influences into Chinese society; the trans-Eurasian "peace" created within the vast Mongol Empire also allowed for a considerable expansion of trade, and the introduction of Byzantine, Islamic, and Persian influences into Chinese art and architecture, particularly in western border regions.<ref name=elman/>

The dynasty practiced considerable religious tolerance, however; Tibetan Buddhism was adopted as the religion of the Court and of the state, but Nestorian Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and other religions were well tolerated within the empire. This brought considerable cultural influences into Chinese society; the trans-Eurasian "peace" created within the vast Mongol Empire also allowed for a considerable expansion of trade, and the introduction of Byzantine, Islamic, and Persian influences into Chinese art and architecture, particularly in western border regions.<ref name=elman>Robert Tignor, [[Benjamin Elman]], et al, ''Worlds Together, Worlds Apart'', vol B, Fourth Edition, W.W. Norton & Co (2014), 398-399.</ref>

A system of so-called tax farmers (local or regional intermediaries who collected taxes on behalf of the central government) was established, along with an extensive communication system based around a network of post-towns. Metal or wooden paiza tablets ("Mongol passports") were required for one to be permitted use of the inns, supplies, and horses at these post-towns.

A system of so-called tax farmers (local or regional intermediaries who collected taxes on behalf of the central government) was established, along with an extensive communication system based around a network of post-towns. Metal or wooden paiza tablets ("Mongol passports") were required for one to be permitted use of the inns, supplies, and horses at these post-towns.