The ruler of the Mongols, Khubilai Khan, rejoined the Chinese territories, and changed the capital to Beijing, which was in Northern China. He named Beijing Dad, the Great Capital. Khubilai, had large mud walls built around Beijing. Beijing was located in the eastern part of the caravan routes, which looked over trade routes.
In the 1220's, the Mongols arrived in China, which was controlled by the Jurchens" Jin Empire. The southern part of China, below the Yellow River was controlled by the Song. Each of the separate areas in China had their own languages and their own government. The Mongols used the ways of the Song to create their government. They counted the population, and required payment of taxes, like they had in the Middle East. The status of an individual, was based on racial ancestry, and occupations; the Mongols were first, then Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and last the Northern Chinese people. .
Though the Mongols had taken control of most of China, those in the south maintained their Confucian culture. They were isolated from the government, however, because of their beliefs and disagreements with government. The Mongols changed China's political government, creating larger provinces, which symbolized their power, and growth. Many cities, in the north and in the central regions, grew and became successful because of the Yuan Empire. The Grand Canal began trade between the north and the south. Besides transport, the Mongols also helped establish monetary stabilization. The Chinese economy was kept stable because it was isolated during the Mongol period. .
After the Yuan Empire the Ming Empire was established. It was created as a result of a monk, also a soldier's, rebellion against the government. The Ming Empire placed a greater focus on nationalism. This was done mostly to show their disliking of the government, and ways of the Mongols. They used Confucianism to portray the Ming emperor as a " champion of civilization, and virtue.