During the 13th century, Mongols swept through China from the northwest. Mongol leader Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) in China. The Yuan dynasty was part of the great Mongol Empire, which was one of the largest land empires in history. It was during this time that China became known to Europeans through the accounts of Venetian traveler Marco Polo.
The Manchus of Manchuria established the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The Manchus were foreign invaders of China who adopted elements of the Chinese culture. They adapted most of their structure of government from that of the previous Ming dynasty.