Deleted member 1487
Assuming the Mongols never manage to unify and turn outward, what impact would that have on Chinese dominance in Asia or their ability to modernize and stay relevant in the world?
Assuming the Mongols never manage to unify and turn outward, what impact would that have on Chinese dominance in Asia or their ability to modernize and stay relevant in the world?
I've read recently that the Song period marked the decline of the Chinese that that really never have seemed to recover from and the cause was the Mongols and the damage they did with their invasion. No other threat before had done the damage that the Mongols were able to and much of what came after were the result of the Mongols, so while it doesn't mean that there would be no other damaging threats, but its hard to imagine one that was has horrifically crippling as the Mongols.It, of course, depends on the timing. But China had a long history of internal dissension, civil wars, etc from time to time, so they often limited themselves.
Also, they dealt with many other barbarian tribes other than the Mongols -- the Hsing-Nu, etc. So, if the Mongols didn't become the problem, someone else likely would have.
Assuming the Mongols never manage to unify and turn outward, what impact would that have on Chinese dominance in Asia or their ability to modernize and stay relevant in the world?
In the meantime, the Song could well collapse, and reemerge more efficient than before, or continue their stagnation - I personally don't see why they'd cut themselves off from their trade revenue - especially against a united North. They can at least use the money to develop their territories further, and increase their defenses.
Long term division of the North and South could well become the norm.
By the end of the dynasty, Jin had already acquired some the ailment its southern neighbor suffered from. Jin's paper money, for instance, was under severe hyperinflation, while its rulers had "given up the advantages in horse skills which they had as barbarians, while acquiring the the useless, luxurious customs of the Middle Kingdom." (舍戎狄鞍馬之長,而從事中州浮靡之習. )One could then argue that such mixed-states would bring about a more 'martial' edge to Chinese culture (just as the Chinese-Xianbei state of the Sui/Tang did), and so you'd see the dynasty begin a new round of expansion into the steppe and Central Asia.