Grace Lin
AP World History
CH 12 Study Guide
THE MONGOL STUDY GUIDE!
Chapter 12: Mongol Eurasian and Its Aftermath, 1200 -1500
Mongol Way of Life: nomadism- groups of people who constantly migrate to find pastures and water
Important Mongol: Genghis Khan- “universal leader”; birth name was Temujin; founder of the Mongol Empire
I.
Mongol Social Structure
a. Hierarchal system & roles
i. Khan: leader/ head of the group
ii. Powerful families: ratified decisions made by the Khan
iii. Lesser families: paid tribute to the powerful with goods and slaves
b. Elite women- played major role
i. Used for marriage alliances with other Mongol groups
ii. Wives/ Mothers of rulers
1. Managed state affairs between the death of a ruler
2. Selected a successor
II.
Factors to Mongol Conquests
a. Superior horsemanship
b. Advanced bow and arrow
c. Better technique: following a volley of arrows with a deadly cavalry charge
d. Military advances:
i. Ability to quickly pick up new military techniques
ii. Adapt new military technologies
iii. Incorporate non-Mongol soldiers into armies
iv. Create a intimidating reputation
v. Ability to take advantage of rivalries among enemies
III.
Effects of Mongols in Muslim lands
a. Destruction of last Abbasid caliphate
i. Because Islam contradicted Mongol religious belief
b. Tax farming system:
i. Delivered large amounts of grain, cash, silk
ii. Over taxation-> > 1295 severe economic crisis
c. Il-khan empire & Golden Horde – declined (14th century)
d. Timur ->> created Jagadai Khanate: central/ western Eurasia
i. Timurids- ruled Middle East for several generations
IV.
Trade, Science, Technology under the Mongols
a. Supported historians->> recorded history of the Mongols
b. Muslim Sciences:
i. Astronomy
ii. Calendar making
iii. Prediction of eclipses
c. Muslim Innovations:
i. Use of epicycles- theory of moon/ earth movement
ii. Invention of more precise astronomical instruments
iii. Recorded astronomical data with better accuracy
d. Muslim Mathematics:
i. Adaption of Indian numerical system
ii. Method for decimal fractions
iii. More accurate calculation of pi
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