which of the following groups has the highest social status under the yuan dynasty
During the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), which was established by the Mongol conqueror Kublai Khan, the social hierarchy was distinctly structured with four main caste-like classifications known as the "Four Class System." The groups were ranked in the following order of descending social status:
1. Mongols - This was the highest-ranking group as they were the conquerors and ruling class. Mongols held the most powerful government positions, military roles, and were granted numerous privileges.
2. Semu (or "Color-eyed" People) - This group included various ethnicities such as Central Asians, Middle Easterners, and Europeans who served as administrators, officials, and merchants. They were considered below the Mongols but still enjoyed a higher status than the native Chinese.
3. Han People (Northern Chinese) - The Han people from the northern part of China, which was conquered by the Mongols before the establishment of the Yuan dynasty, were placed third in the hierarchy. They were employed in roles beneath the Semu and the Mongols and were generally better treated than their southern counterparts.
4. Southerners (Southern Chinese) - At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the native Han Chinese of the southern regions, who were the latest to be conquered by the Mongols. They suffered the most discrimination, had limited opportunities, and were often relegated to the lowest status jobs.
In this hierarchy, the ethnic Mongols held the highest social status during the Yuan dynasty.