Barbarians: The Mongols
The cultures, weapons and strategies of the Huns, Goths, Vikings and Mongols are explored in a captivating
quartet of documentaries from the History Channel. Includes profiles of such notorious rulers as Attila the Hun
and Genghis Khan, as well as insights from historians and re-creations of some of history's most deadly battles.
The Mongols (WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES)
In which of the major time periods does this film take place? (Example: Classical, Early Modern, etc.)
What regions/nations are involved in this film (be sure to list them all!):
1. Who were the Mongols’ chief Asian rivals?
2. Who was Temujin and what title did he take?
3. According to the video, how did Temujin’s personal family background affect his later development
and motivations as a leader?
4.
Describe the Mongols’ military strategies. Why did these afford the Mongols such advantages
over their enemies?
5.
What strategies did the Mongol armies use to intimidate and disorient those whom they attacked?
6.
What are some explanations for why Genghis Khan was so cruel and sadistic?
7.
After subduing the Chinese, Genghis Khan moved west into central Asia, where he understood that his
territories were on the Silk Road—the major trading route between east and west. How did this alter his
long term goals for the Mongols? How did the Mongol empire affect communication and trade between east and
west?
8.
Who was Tamerlane? Compare his leadership and accomplishments to Genghis Khan’s.
9.
How did Timur’s defeat of the Ottoman Turks affect the balance of power with Christian Europe?
10.
Describing the weakness of the Mongol empire after Genghis Khan’s death, one of the historians in the
video says, “There weren’t enough Mongols.” Why was the size of the Mongol population important?
Was this inevitable?
Write a Compare and Contrast or Change and Continuity thesis using two of your PERSIAN themes and the
topic/content of the film you are viewing. These may be very broad and involve outside sources (example:
comparing and contrasting the French Revolution with the Russian Revolution.)
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