Teaching about Inner Asia in the context of today's world can be accomplished by presenting the historical relations among China, Russia, and Inner Asia. Present day China-Russia policies and relations date back to earlier unequal treaties forced upon China by the West. China has historically attempted to maintain an isolationist position against constant invasions, many from the northern Mongols who were able to succeed in ruling the Chinese people for over 700 years. The Great Wall of China was constructed to protect the Chinese people from invasions by the northern barbarians. China's policy toward this region was characterized by tribute missions. Soldiers and merchants were not esteemed by their society, and Chinese policy was opposite Russia's "war or trade" policy. The first conquest of China was that of Ghengis Khan and his grandson Khubilai Khan in A.D. 1280. After the end of the Khans' reign in A.D. 1370, the Ming Dynasty maintained strong military forces against the Mongols for the purpose of keeping the Mongol tribes warring amongst themselves and disunited. (NL)