Come for Learn: World's history (part 9 ): Central Asia[edit] Starting with theSui Dynasty(581-618), the Chinese began expansion into eastern Central Asia, and had to deal withTurkicnomads, who were becoming the most dominant ethnic group in Central Asia. [94][95]Originally the relationship was largely cooperative, but in 630 the Tang Dynastybegan an offensive against the Turks.,[96]capturing areas of the Mongolian Ordos Desert. The Tang Empire competed with the Tibetan Empirefor control of areas in Inner and Central Asia.[97][98]In the 8th century, Islam began to penetrate the region and soon became the sole faith of most of the population, though Buddhism remained strong in the east. The desert nomads of Arabiacould militarily match the nomads of the steppe, and the early Arab Empiregained control over parts of Central Asia. TheHephthaliteswere the most powerful of the nomad groups in the 6th and 7th century, and controlled much of the region. In the 10th and 11th centuries the region was divided between several powerful states including the Samanid dynasty, that of theSeljuk Turks, and the Khwarezmid Empire. The most spectacular power to rise out of Central Asia developed whenGenghis Khanunited the tribes of Mongolia. The Mongol Empirespread to comprise all of Central Asia and China as well as large parts of Russia, and the Middle East. After Genghis Khan died in 1227, most of Central Asia continued to be dominated by the successor Chagatai Khanate. In 1369,Timur, a Turkic leader in the Mongol military tradition, conquered most of the region. Timur's large empire collapsed soon after his death, however. The region then became divided among a series of smaller Khanates, including the Khanate of Khiva, theKhanate of Bukhara, theKhanate of Kokand , and theKhanate of Kashgar. Angkor Wattemple,Cambodia, early 12th century Southeast Asia[edit] The beginning of the Middle Ages inSoutheast Asiasaw the fall (550 CE) of theKingdom of Funan to theChenla Kingdom, which was then replaced by theKhmer Empire(802 CE). The Khmer's capital city Angkorwas the largest city in the world prior to the industrial age and contained over a thousand temples, the most famous being Angkor Wat. TheSukhothai(1238 CE) and Ayutthaya(1351 CE) kingdoms were major powers of theThai people, who were influenced by the Khmer. Starting in the 9th century, the Pagan Kingdomrose to prominence in modern Burma. Other notable kingdoms of the period include theSrivijayan Empireand the Lavo Kingdom(both coming into prominence in the 7th century), theChampaand the Haripunchai(both about 750), theDai Viet(968),Lanna(13th century),Majapahit Empire (1293),Lan Xang(1354), and theAva Kingdom(1364). It was also during this period thatIslam spread to present-dayIndonesia(beginning in the 13th century), and theMalay statesbegan to emerge. Oceania[edit] TheTu'i Tonga Empirewas founded in the 10th century AD and expanded between 1200 and 1500. Tongan culture, language, and influence spread widely within Polynesiaduring this period,[99][100]through East'Uvea, Rotuma, Futuna, Samoa and Niue, parts of Micronesia (Kiribati, Pohnpei), Vanuatu, and New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, [101]Indigenous written records from this period are scant, but some history can be established through oral tradition, archaeology, and linguistics. Machu Picchu