The Mongol conquests of China in the thirteenth century have typically been seen as a disaster for the subject Chinese peoples, placing them under the yoke of an invader insensitive to Chinese cultural values, distrustful of Chinese influences and inept in government.

This book assesses the Mongol achievements in China and re-considers their significance, arguing that the Mongols did not merely cause harm but also brought many benefits, not least bringing together nearly the whole of what was later referred to as 'China' and devising a system of government that, more or...