Terrifying plague kills millions Chinese oust Mongol rulers Ottomans carve out a new empire The sternpost rudder, a new device for steering ships, is adopted Violence in Japan threatens stability Tatar leader Timur controls much of Asia African emperor's travels bring glory to Mali

5. Violence in Japan threatens stability Japan's Ashikaga clan completed its ouster of the Minamotos from power in the 1330's, but soon faced much fighting among rival samurai nobles. Appeals for peace and unity have so far failed to stem the increasingly violent battles. Meanwhile, the power of Japan's emperor continues to wither. View from Today