How did Kublai Khan conquer one of the most advanced and populous states of his time? This video takes a strategic look at how the Mongols, who initially couldn't even cross 500m of water, eventually beat the Chinese navy and conquered the Song Dynasty. They paid dearly for it, however, and the pressures of conquering China arguably ended the unity of the Mongol Empire.

SCRIPT: https://strategosstuff.blogspot.com/2...

Chinese names are given in Modern Chinese/Mandarin pinyin. Forgive the Mandarin pronunciation.

All errors are my own. I apologize for the bad sound quality.

▬ CHAPTERS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 Introduction
0:25 Geography
3:16 Approaches to War
6:21 1230s1242: Song Attack and Mongol Defense
9:41 12471259: Flanking the Song
12:15 12631273: The Siege of Xiangyang
19:39 12741279: Fall of the Song
24:45 Conclusions

▬ SOURCES ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Kuhn D. The Age of Confucian Rule. Belknap Press 2009.
Waterson J. Defending Heaven. Frontline Books 2013.
Lo JP. China as a Sea Power 11271368. National University of Singapore Press 2013.

Bai YQ. Wengong Wulve de Songyuan Shidai [The Cultured and Warlike Eras of the Song and Yuan]. Haodu Publishing 2004.
Luttwak E. Strategy. The Belknap Press 1987.
Turnbull S. The Mongol Invasion of Japan. Osprey Publishing 2010.

▬ ATTRIBUTIONS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Google Maps
Wikipedia (Basic facts)
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%A5%8... (Battle of Xiangyang Map)

Made using Powerpoint 2013.