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A tiered system of social status was implemented based on ethnicity, with Mongols at the top, other nomadic peoples next, followed by Han Chinese from northern China, and then, on the bottom, Han Chinese from southern China, who comprised roughly 80 percent of the population of the Yuan Empire. Non-Han peoples, including not only Mongols, but also Jews, Armenians, Nestorians, Turks, Persians, Tibetans, Muslims, [[Jurchens]], [[Khitan]], and [[Tanguts]] enjoyed a higher political status.<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> 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 next, followed by Han Chinese from northern China, and then, on the bottom, Han Chinese from southern China, who comprised roughly 80 percent of the population of the Yuan Empire. Non-Han peoples, including not only Mongols, but also Jews, Armenians, Nestorians, Turks, Persians, Tibetans, Muslims, [[Jurchens]], [[Khitan]], and [[Tanguts]] enjoyed a higher political status.<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> 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.

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/>

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.

Following the successful rebellion of [[Hongwu Emperor|Zhu Yuanzhang]] and establishment of the Ming Dynasty in China in [[1368]], the Mongol leadership split into number of confederations, under separate khans, one of whom continued to rule in the name of the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongols never again regained control of China, but did continue to threaten and harass the Chinese Empire for more than two hundred years. In [[1449]], one khan managed to kidnap the Ming Emperor, and Mongol forces threatened the walls of Beijing in the mid-16th century. It was not until [[1571]] that the Ming managed to establish a formal peace with the Mongols.

Following the successful rebellion of [[Hongwu Emperor|Zhu Yuanzhang]] and establishment of the Ming Dynasty in China in [[1368]], the Mongol leadership split into number of confederations, under separate khans, one of whom continued to rule in the name of the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongols never again regained control of China, but did continue to threaten and harass the Chinese Empire for more than two hundred years. In [[1449]], one khan managed to kidnap the Ming Emperor, and Mongol forces threatened the walls of Beijing in the mid-16th century. It was not until [[1571]] that the Ming managed to establish a formal peace with the Mongols.