Final answer:
Kublai Khan's contributions include establishing the Yuan dynasty, moving the capital to Beijing, supporting religious inclusivity, and expanding the Mongol influence to surrounding regions. Despite difficulties in maintaining a unified Mongol Empire, his legacy is marked by the successful unification of China under the Yuan dynasty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period of Kublai Khan’s rule brought significant contributions to China, marking the successful establishment and governance of the Yuan dynasty. His leadership led to the first instance of a non-Chinese ruler uniting all of China under his control. Kublai founded the Yuan dynasty by defeating the Song dynasty and proclaiming himself the Emperor of China, which ushered in new governance that intermixed Mongol and Chinese cultures. He moved the capital to what is now Beijing—strategically positioning it closer to the ancestral Mongol lands—and adopted the term 'Yuan,' meaning 'origin,' to solidify his empire's legitimacy through the Mandate of Heaven. He supported a religiously inclusive environment, favoring Tibetan Buddhism but allowing other faiths to coexist. His reign saw expansion beyond China, influencing regions such as the Korean peninsula, even though attempts at invading Japan were unsuccessful.
Nevertheless, Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty faced internal divisions and was unable to maintain a wholly unified Mongol Empire. After his death, a succession crisis weakened the dynasty and laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of the Ming. Despite the political fractures and struggles with governing such a vast and diverse empire, Kublai’s contributions in unifying China and influencing its culture and administration are undeniable.