The Mongol Moment
1206-1480
Agree or disagree?
Mongol impact on world history was more
positive than negative.
Who were
the
Mongols?
Chinggis Khan’s dream
In 1216 Genghis sent three envoys to Samarqand with gifts for the
Khwarazm Shah…gold, jade, ivory, and white ivory, white--camel wool
cloaks, plus this note:
I send you these gifts. I know your power and the vast extent of your empire and I regard you as my most
cherished son. For your part you must know that I have conquered China and all the Turkish nations north
of it; my country is an anthill of soldiers and a mine of silver and I have no need of other lands. Therefore
I believe that we have an equal interest in encouraging trade between our subjects.”
Signed,
“God in Heaven, The Kah Khan,
The Power of God on Earth,
The Emperor of MankindEarth, Mankind”
The Mongol Impact
• International commerce as a source of tax
revenue
• Diplomacy on a Eurasian scale
– China and Persian courts developed close
relationships
• Cultural exchange
• The Plague—Eurasian Pandemic
– Primary reason for the breakdown of the
Mongol Empire in 14th and 15th centuries
Characteristics of Pastoral
Societies
• Formation of nomadic states was difficult
because of mobile lifestyle
• More egalitarian than sedentary societies,
but sometimes distinguished between
nobles and commoners
• Women usually had a higher status than in
sedentary societies
Characteristics of Pastoral
Societies
• Generally less productive than agricultural
societies
• Population much smaller than agricultural
societies
• Lived in clans of related kinfolk who
sometimes gathered as tribes
• Mastered environments unsuitable for
agriculture
Mongol Empire Breakout
• Mongols formed the greatest land-based
empire in history in the 13th century
• Created greater contact between Europe,
China, and Islamic world
• Did not have a major cultural impact on
the world
– Mostly interested in exploiting conquered
peoples.
The Mongol Moment
• Mongol Empire grew without any grand
scheme
• Saw conquests as the mission to unite the
world
• Mongols were vastly outnumbered by
enemies
• Mongol success was due to their well-led,
disciplined army
The Mongol Moment
• Mongols had a
reputation for
brutality and
destructiveness
• Mongols skillfully
mobilized
resources
– Census and taxation
systems
China and the Mongols
China and the Mongols
• Mongol conquest of China was
difficult took from 1209-1279
• Khubilai Khan (1271-1294)
• Mongols did not know how to rule an
agricultural society, so they used
Chinese practices
– Yuan dynasty
– Capital in Beijing
China and the Mongols
• Mongol rule was harsh,
exploitative and foreign
• Mongols did not become
Chinese
• Mongol law discriminated
against the Chinese
Persia and the Mongols
• First invasion led by Chinggis Khan
(1219-1221) and the second invasion
was led by Hulegu (1251-1258)
• Shook the Muslim faith
• Sacking of Baghdad in 1258 ended the
Abbasid caliphate
• Adopted and used Persian bureaucracy
• Mongols converted to Islam on a large
scale
Persia and the Mongols
• Mongol elite learned some Persian
• Some Mongols took up agriculture
Russia and the Mongols
• Mongol devastation of
Russia was 1237-1240
• Independent Russian
principalities could not
unite against the Mongol
threat
• Destruction of cities and
slaughter was
widespread
• Deportation of skilled
workers
Russia and the Mongols
• Russia integrated into the Mongol Empire
and was called “The Golden Horde”
• Moscow became a primary tributecollector for the Mongols
• Russian princes adopted Mongol
weapons, tax system and military draft
Agree or disagree?
• Mongol impact on world history was more
positive than negative.