Korea and the Fall of the Mongol Empire: Alliance, Upheaval, and the Rise of a New East Asian Order

Korea and the Fall of the Mongol Empire explores the experiences of King Gongmin of Goryeo, Wang Gi, during the mid-fourteenth century, focusing on the motives of Wang Gi to understand the rise and fall of the empire. It offers a fresh perspective on Korean, Mongolian, and Chinese history, sharpening our understanding of alliances across Eurasia.

Format: Hardback
Length: 327 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Korea and the Fall of the Mongol Empire delves into the captivating and enigmatic life of King Gongmin of Goryeo, Wang Gi, as he navigated the tumultuous mid-fourteenth century. This period witnessed the collapse of the Mongol Empire and the emergence of its successors in West, Central, and East Asia. Drawing upon a vast array of Korean and Chinese sources and integrating insights from East Asian and Western scholarship, David Robinson offers a profound exploration of the single most significant geopolitical transformation of the fourteenth century through the lens of this East Asian ruler. Rather than focusing on the major contemporary powers, Robinson delves into the motivations of Wang Gi to understand the rise and fall of empires, providing a fresh perspective on this pivotal period of history. The result is a nuanced and accessible appreciation of Korean, Mongolian, and Chinese history, which deepens our understanding of alliances across Eurasia.

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.

Weight: 595g
ISBN-13: 9781009098960
Edition number: New ed