Shangdu

  • The Rise of Ming and the Flight of the Yuan [Song & Yuan]

    This article traces the fall of the Yuan Dynasty and the rise of the Ming. Plagued by court infighting, moral decay, and massive peasant uprisings, the Yuan collapsed amid chaos. Zhu Yuanzhang, a former peasant and monk, rose through strategic patience, unified southern China, and defeated rival rebels. In 1368, he founded the Ming…

  • The Rise of the Yuan: From Steppe Khans to Chinese Emperors [Song & Yuan]

    This article narrates the rise of the Yuan Dynasty. After the Mongols broke their promise to the Song, Kublai Khan embraced Han governance to rule Central Plains. He won the Mongol succession war, founded the Yuan in 1271, built Dadu (Beijing) as capital, and prepared to conquer the Southern Song.