ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mongol invasions of Japan

Okay, imagine Japan is like a big, delicious cake. And the Mongol Empire, led by a powerful leader named Kublai Khan, really wanted to taste that cake. So, they decided to invade Japan not just once but twice!

First, let's talk about the first invasion, known as the Mongol Invasion of Japan in 1274. The Mongols were like a big army of warriors on horseback, ready to take over Japan. They sailed on huge ships called "war junks" across the sea to reach Japan.

But here's the thing, Japan was like a tough nut to crack. They had warriors called samurais, who were like the protectors of Japan. These samurais were really good at fighting and protecting their land. They were like superheroes!

When the Mongols arrived in Japan, the samurais fought back with all their might. They used their strong weapons and fought with bravery. The Japanese also had a special weapon called "fire arrows" which they shot at the Mongol ships. Can you imagine arrows that set things on fire? That's cool!

But even with all their bravery and fire arrows, the Japanese were outnumbered by the Mongols. The Mongols had a lot more soldiers and were way bigger in number. So, unfortunately, the Mongols won the first invasion and started to take over parts of Japan. They even reached the capital city, but they couldn't fully conquer the whole country.

Now, let's move on to the second invasion, known as the Mongol Invasion of Japan in 1281. The Mongols, still hungry for that cake, decided to try again. This time, they were even more prepared and had a bigger army. They had tons of soldiers and even more war junks! They really wanted to taste that Japanese cake.

But guess what? Japan was still not an easy piece of cake to eat! The samurais were ready for the Mongols this time too. They had learned from the first invasion and were even more prepared. They built big walls and fortresses to protect themselves. They came up with clever strategies to defend their land. They were like unstoppable forces!

When the Mongols arrived again, the samurais fought fiercely. But this time, nature played a role too. Japan's weather can be very wild, with typhoons and strong winds. And guess what? Just as the Mongols were trying to attack Japan, a powerful typhoon, known as a "kamikaze," hit them. The typhoon destroyed many of the Mongol ships and scattered their army. It was like Japan had some magical help from the weather!

Because of the typhoon and the brave samurais fighting back, the Mongols were forced to retreat and give up their plans to take over Japan. They couldn't taste the Japanese cake, no matter how much they wanted it.

So, in the end, the samurais and the kamikaze typhoon saved Japan from being conquered by the Mongols. Japan remained a strong and independent land, like a cake that no one can eat without permission!