Liao Dynasty

Place: Northern China

Death: 1125

Biography:

The Liao dynasty was a Chinese dynasty and kingdom that existed roughly in parallel to the better-known Song Dynasty. It was founded by the nomadic Khitans, a Mongolian people who had lived in Northeast China for centuries. The Liao dynasty was known for its blending of Chinese and Khitan cultural traditions, and for its military campaigns against neighboring states and peoples. The dynasty reached its height in the 10th and 11th centuries, when it controlled a vast territory that included much of modern-day China, Mongolia, and the Korean Peninsula. The Liao dynasty was eventually conquered by the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty in 1125.