Changes

In most areas, where people were willing to submit to Mongol authority, the people and their cities and livelihoods were largely spared. Mongol forces took artisans in order to expand their technology, but for the most part allowed conquered peoples to continue to rule themselves (while obeying the overarching Mongol ''jasagh'' legal code, paying [[tribute]], and so forth). A courier system of fast, well-networked, post horses linked the empire, allowing for swift communications, and the great peace brought in the wake of Mongol attacks allowed for a great increase in trade within the massive, and relatively orderly Mongol Empire, from Beijing to Moscow.

In most areas, where people were willing to submit to Mongol authority, the people and their cities and livelihoods were largely spared. Mongol forces took artisans in order to expand their technology, but for the most part allowed conquered peoples to continue to rule themselves (while obeying the overarching Mongol ''jasagh'' legal code, paying [[tribute]], and so forth). A courier system of fast, well-networked, post horses linked the empire, allowing for swift communications, and the great peace brought in the wake of Mongol attacks allowed for a great increase in trade within the massive, and relatively orderly Mongol Empire, from Beijing to Moscow.

[[Kublai Khan]], a grandson of Genghis Khan, became Great Khan in [[1260]], and completed the conquest of China. The [[Southern Song Dynasty]] held out against Mongol attacks for about 45 years, far longer than most regions, but eventually succumbed, giving way to the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty in 1279. [[Yunnan province]] and parts of Burma fell in the 1270s as well, allowing the Khan to threaten Cambodia; however, the Mongols never did succeed in taking any significant amount of Khmer or Vietnamese land. A Mongol script was developed in [[1269]] and quickly came to be used in official documents throughout the empire. In the meantime, however, in [[1264]] the great Mongol Empire was split in four; Kublai remained Great Khan, and passed on this title to his successors, while others came to rule the Ilkhanate of Persia, the Chagatai Khanate of Central Asia (ruling over areas including Ili, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Kashgar), and the Khanate of the Golden Horde (including Moscow, Kiev, and a significant area to the east of that, in what is today Russia).

[[Kublai Khan]], a grandson of Genghis Khan, became Great Khan in [[1260]], and completed the conquest of China. The [[Southern Song Dynasty]] held out against Mongol attacks for about 45 years, far longer than most regions, but eventually succumbed, giving way to the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty in 1279. [[Yunnan province]] and parts of Burma fell in the 1270s as well, allowing the Khan to threaten Cambodia; however, the Mongols never did succeed in taking any significant amount of Khmer or Vietnamese land. A Mongol script was developed in [[1269]] and quickly came to be used in official documents throughout the empire. In the meantime, however, in [[1264]] the great Mongol Empire was split in four. Kublai remained Great Khan, and passed on this title to his successors, while his brother Hulegu and his successors came to rule the Ilkhanate of Persia. Others ruled the Chagatai Khanate of Central Asia (ruling over areas including Ili, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Kashgar), and the Khanate of the Golden Horde (including Moscow, Kiev, and a significant area to the east of that, in what is today Russia).

Kublai Khan sent emissaries to Japan on several occasions, in [[1266]], [[1268]], [[1271]], and [[1272]], demanding that the [[Kamakura shogunate]] submit to Mongol suzerainty. The Japanese refused on every occasion, and the Mongols eventually launched two invasion attempts against Japan, in 1274, and 1281. Both ultimately failed; Kublai Khan planned a third, but it was never launched. In the meantime, attempts to invaded Ryûkyû in 1291 and 1296, and Java in [[1293]], similarly failed. Kublai Khan died in [[1294]].

Kublai Khan sent emissaries to Japan on several occasions, in [[1266]], [[1268]], [[1271]], and [[1272]], demanding that the [[Kamakura shogunate]] submit to Mongol suzerainty. The Japanese refused on every occasion, and the Mongols eventually launched two invasion attempts against Japan, in 1274, and 1281. Both ultimately failed; Kublai Khan planned a third, but it was never launched. In the meantime, attempts to invaded Ryûkyû in 1291 and 1296, and Java in [[1293]], similarly failed. Kublai Khan died in [[1294]].