The Yuan dynasty, also known as the Great Yuan, was a successor state to the

Mongol Empire after its division and a ruling dynasty of China established by Kublai
Khan, leader of the Mongol Borjigin clan, lasting from 1271 to 1368.It was the first
foreign-led dynasty in ancient China.

The Yuan Dynasty came from Mongolia. In 1266, Kublai made Dadu (modern-day
Beijing) his capital, and this further alienated him from his Mongol kinsmen who
claimed he didn't follow Mongol ways and wasn't loyal to the Mongols. In 1271,
Kublai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty, which coexisted with the Southern
Song Dynasty, therefore made southern Song the last to be conquered by the Yuan
dynasty.

Kublai's empire was the first to use paper money as the main currency. The money
later experienced high inflation. Today, the "yuan" is the basic unit of money in
China.

During the Yuan dynasty, they continued to live in tents, drink fermented milk, and
only married other Mongols. The Yuan Dynasty was one of the shortest lived of all
the major Chinese Dynasties.

Also, inventions such as much scientific and technological advancement were made
in areas like maths, medicine, printing technology and gunpowder warfare.

Their national costumes were fur coats and fur caps. The garments made of
marten and sheepskin was very common, and most garments were robes with
narrow cuffs and loose sleeves. Ordinary women of the Yuan Dynasty wore Ruqun
(upper jacket and lower skirt), and garments of Banbei (half sleeves) were also
popular.

The Mongolian food served in the Yuan palace was mainly meat from animals and
fowl, especially mutton, but little seafood was served. The Yuan imperial food
considered of meats and vegetables with mixed flavors from the Muslims, Hans,
and other ethnic groups.

After Kublai Khan's death, the dynasty began to weaken. The heirs of Kublai began
to fight over power and the government became corrupt.