River, which flows into the Caspian Sea. Possessing this outlet to the sea, Moscow could trade directly with Persia and the Ottoman Empire without
having to deal with the strong forces of the Crimean Tartars,
To the Pacifie Russia continued moving cast into Siberia after the reign
of Ivan IV. Pur traders and militias defeated one indigenous tribe after another
Missionaries followed, converting many to the Eastern Orthodox faith, although
the local shamans, or religious leaders, continued to have influence. By 1639,
the Russians had advanced cast as far as the Pacific Ocean. Explorations and
fair trading expeditions continued across the Pacific to Alaska (1741) and down
the spastor North America to California (1814)
East Asia
China's. Yuan Dynasty, founded by Mongol invader Kublai Khan in 1271, was
overthrown by the Ming Dynasty in 1368 after less than a century in power
Ming rulers managed to stabilize the East Asian region for nearly 300 years
During the Ming era, the Portuguese and other Europeans arrived, aiming to
encroach on the Asian trade network. Then, in 1644, the powerful Manchu
from neighboring Manchuria seized power and established the Qing Dynasty,
which ruled until 1911. During both of these dynasties, Japan and Korea
experienced parallel developments but with unique aspects
The Ming Dynasty also expanded the size of China, conquering lands in
Mongolia and Central Asia, li did not hold them for long, however, in the
14405, Mongol armies defeated Ming forces and even took the Ming emperor
prisoner. In reaction to renewed Mongol power, China's leaders looked to the
Great Wall of China for protection. The Wall had not been maintained under
Mongol rule, but under the Ming Dynasty it was restored and expanded to
help keep out invaders from the north (Connect: Create a chart comparing the
Ming and Yuan Dynasties. See Topic 2.2.)
Emperor Kangxi One of China's longest-reigning emperors, Kangxi
(ruled 1661-1722) presided over a period of stability and expansion during
the Qing Dynasty in China, Kangxi sent forces into Taiwan, Mongolia, and
Central Asia, incorporating those areas into the empire, China also imposed a
protectorate over Tibet, the mountainous land north of India, a policy reflected
in China's control of the region today
Emperor Olanlong Another important Oing ruler was Emperor
Qianlong (ruled 1736-1796), a poet, who was also knowledgeable in art and
calligraphy. At the beginning of his reign, the country was well administered
and government tax collections were at an all-time high. Qianlong initiated
military campaigns in lands west of China, which led to the annexation of
Xinjiang accompanied by the mass killings of the local population. Even
today, parts of Xinjiang remain troubled. The local Muslim population, called
Uighurs, has never fully become incorporated into the rest of Chinese culture.