COMMON CORE ACTIVITY: A Close Reading of Kublai Khan ...

throughout his reign.To win their allegiance, Kublai continued theMongol policy of conquest. His armies won controlof southern China, ending the Song Dynasty, in partbecause he used artillery operated by two Muslimengineers. He also won control of Burma and presentdayVietnam. These successes gained him thesupport he needed. He did not lose that backingdespite suffering disappointment in his attempt toconquer Korea and Japan.In running his empire, Kublai tried to balanceMongol and Chinese cultures. He adopted theChinese system of government, had his childrengiven a Chinese education, and even moved thecapital from Mongolia to China. However, heimposed a four-level structure on society that putthe Mongols at the top and the Chinese at the bottom.He also made sure that top-level governmentposts were reserved for Mongols or other peoplesand not the Chinese.On the other hand, he took steps to promote theChinese economy. He created an agency of thegovernment to help farmers learn how to increasetheir crop production. In addition, he extended theGrand Canal, which made it easier to transport food.Finally, he promoted trade, an activity that traditionalChinese emperors had looked down upon.Kublai’s last years were sad, however. The failuresin Japan proved costly, and his monetary policyhurt the Chinese economy. The deaths of hiswife and son also took their toll. He died in 1294,having lost his energy and his role in ruling hisempire.Loyalty or supportWeaponry fired by cannonsEconomic