as used by Kublai Khan, mean "origin" or "center" of the universe
"Great Yuan" named by the empire's founder, Kublai Khan, likely in order to inlude his rule within Chinese dynastic history as well as to claim the Mandate of Heaven
1271–1368
established by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan
1st non-Han dynasty to rule China
Yuan emperors spoke Chinese but kept use of Mongolian
Kublai Khan's 1st capital was called "City of the Khans," but was changed in Han Chinese to "Great Capital"
he used the name changes to claim Chinese legitimacy
Ming is from the Chinese characters for sun and moon; it also means "luminescent"
the name was taken by Han Shantong who led early rebellions against the Yuan Dynasty; Han Shantong took on the name "King Ming" for "King of Light"
1368-1644
followed the collapse of Mongol rule under the Yuan Dynasty
the "Red Turban Rebellions" weakened the Yuan (named for red banners and hats)
Red Turban movement was started by a Chinese monk (associated w/ the Bhuddist White Lotus secret society that believed in fight of good v. evil, influencd by Manichaeism from ancient Persia, called in China "Mingjiao")
represented a Han Chinese ethnic rebellion against Mongol rule
reinstituted Confucian culture, which was largely Han
Ming emperors used court eunuchs (couldn't have children so posed no dynastic threat) to balance power w/ Confucian administrator
named for the 2nd son of Ghengis Khan, Chagatai Khan
Chagatai was considered rebellious and refused to recognize Ghengis Khan's first son, Jochi, as his full brother (thus marking a weakness in such imperial arrangements that have different sons from different wives of an organizing ruler)
a Turkic language later developed in the region of Chagatai's rule, and was called "Chagatai"; the modern languages, Uzbek and Uyghur, a direct descendants of Chagatai
1242-1347 /
1347-1487
Chagatai inherited this region after the death of Genghis Khan in 1227; Chagatia died in 1242
during reign of Kublai Khan (who started the Yuan Dynasty), Chagatai rulers broke away from his rule
Chagatai Khanate consists of modern Central Asian states
in 1347, the Khanate was divided when Moghulistan was declared independent under a tribal alliance led by Tughlugh Timur
Tughlugh Timur converted to Islam
over time, his successors were also Muslim and eventually imposed Sharia Law
in the 1400s the region underwent "Turkification," where by Turkic populations / culture largerly replaced Mongol culture adn/or Moghul populations
from origins under Charlemagne who was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800 by Pope Leo III
Charlemagne thus gained Church legitimacy in exchange for vassalhood to the Church
"Holy Roman" = representing the Roman Church
Empire = power supposedly inherited from ancient Roman emperors, i.e., considered in their lineage
800-1806
(962 alternative start date)
early stages, included France under the Carolingian line of French (Frankish) kings, but as France emerged as independent kingdom under the Capetian dynasty ( 987 to 1328, started by Hugh Capet; no certainty for the name, "Capet", but one can think of "head" for Capet, as in "head of France")
The Holy Roman Empire between 972 and 1032
House of Valois (France)
1328-1589
House of Bourbon (France)
1589-1792, 1815-1830, 1830-1848
note the interrupted timeline, starting w/ the French Revolution, 1792, and the Napoleonic period, then 1815, 1830 and 1848 revolutions
Napoleon
Austrian Empire / Hapsburgs
"House of Hapsburg" from Habsburg Castle, a fortress built in in early 1000s in modern day Switzerland
empire indicates conquest, so think of Hungary, Slavic countries, lower Germany, etc.
1804–1867
mixed politically with Spanish monarchy under the Holy Roman Empire
