Emperor of the Seas: Kublai Khan and the Making of China

Weatherford (anthropology, Macalester Coll.; Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World) centers this work around the life of Kublai Khan (1215–1294), grandson of the Mongolian leader Genghis Khan (1162–1227), and founder of China’s Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). He explains how Kublai’s mastery of naval power enabled him to conquer all of China. Genghis conquered northern China, but was unable to conquer Southern China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279) due to powerful rivers that Mongolian forces were unable to cross. Thus, Song China continued to thrive for decades to come. In 1260, Kublai ascended to power. It took him 19 years, but eventually his forces conquered the Song by incorporating shipbuilding knowledge from his Korean vassals and observing Song naval tactics. The Mongolian empire, built on cavalry forces, was then able to project power over the oceans. Weatherford chronicles Kublai’s failed attempts to conquer Japan, Vietnam, and Java with his navy as well. However, his successors were able to profit from international trade based in southern Chinese ports.