Korea and the Fall of the Mongol Empire explores the experiences of the enigmatic and controversial King Gongmin of Goryeo, Wang Gi, as he navigated the upheavals of the mid-fourteenth century, including the collapse of the Mongol Empire and the rise of its successors in West, Central, and East Asia. Drawing on a wealth of Korean and Chinese sources and integrating East Asian and Western scholarship on the topic, David Robinson considers the single greatest geopolitical transformation of the fourteenth century through the experiences of this one East Asian ruler. He focuses on the motives of Wang Gi, rather than the major contemporary powers, to understand the rise and fall of empire, offering a fresh perspective on this period of history. The result is a more nuanced and accessible appreciation of Korean, Mongolian, and Chinese history, which sharpens our understanding of alliances across Eurasia.
Author(s): David M. Robinson
Edition: New
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 327
City: Cambridge
Cover
Half-title page
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication
Contents
List of Charts
List of Maps
Kings of the Late Goryeo Period
Preface
Goryeo History
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Child of Empire: 1330–1341
2 A Decade at the Yuan Court: 1341–1351
3 The Goryeo Dynasty on the Eve of Wang Gi’s Enthronement: 1341–1351
4 Becoming the Goryeo King: 1351–1353
5 Ally in Collapse: 1354–1355
6 Redefining Allegiance: The Summer of 1356
7 A Tipping Point: 1357–1367
8 Choosing a New Lord: 1368–1370
9 A New Age: 1370–1374
Conclusion
References
Index
