The Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) ruled over large territories in Inner Asia in the 13th and the 14th centuries. The Borjigin rulers of the Yuan came from the Mongolian steppe, and the Mongols under Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty based in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing). The Yuan was an imperial dynasty of China that incorporated many aspects of Mongol and Han political and military institutions.[1]
The Yuan directly ruled over most of modern-day China, Korea, Mongolia, and parts of Siberia (Russia). Specifically, Yuan rule extended to Manchuria (modern-day Northeast China and Outer Manchuria), Mongolia, southern Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau and parts of Xinjiang. People from these 'Inner Asian' regions either belonged to the 'Mongol' class, 'Northern Han' class, or 'Semu' class.
In addition, the Yuan emperors held nominal suzerainty over the three western Mongol khanates (the Golden Horde, the Chagatai Khanate and the Ilkhanate).
- ^ Murowchick, Robert E. (1994). China: Ancient Culture, Modern Land. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-8061-2683-3.