The Mongols
Geography
Asian Steppe (dry grasslands)
◦ receives little rainfall
◦ short, & hard grasses are good for grazing
 Served as a trade route connecting east and west

Culture
Pastoralists
(herders of domestic animals)
 Nomadic
(followed seasonal migration
pattern)

Culture
Depended on animals for food, housing, &
clothing
 Traveled in familial clans

Culture
Frequently fought over territory
 Traded horses w/ settled groups & occasionally
raided settled communities for other necessities
 Rarely imposed their way of life on conquered
peoples, & they sometimes assimilated to the
conquered culture

Super Sleuth Check Point
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Which area receives little rainfall and has
short, hard grasses that are good for grazing?
Who herds domestic animals?
The Mongols traveled in what types of clans?
What did the Mongols frequently fight over?
What item did the Mongols trade with settled
communities?
The Mongols rarely imposed their way of life
on conquered peoples. They sometimes
__________________to the conquered culture.
“A Mighty Fighting Force”
page 332 - 333
1. What kinds of strategies did the
Mongol army use to become more
efficient fighters?
2. What tools were critical to Mongol
warfare?
3. What were the roles of women in
Mongol warfare?
Genghis Khan

United the Mongol clans
around 1200

1206, accepted the name
Genghis Khan, meaning
“universal ruler”

Led Mongols for 21 years to
conquer much of Asia

His successors created the
largest unified land in history
until that point (expanded in
Asia)
Genghis Khan Facebook Activity
pages 331-332
“I will rule them by
fixed laws so that rest
and happiness shall
prevail in the world.”
- Genghis Khan
Trade
Asian steppe - trade route
between east & west
 The “Pax Mongolica” (Mongol
Peace) lasted from mid-1200s
to mid-1300s & guaranteed
safe passage through the
empire for traders,
missionaries, & travelers

Super Sleuth Check Point
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Who united the Mongol clans around 1200?
What does the name Genghis Khan mean?
Which part of the world did Genghis Khan and
the Mongols conquer?
What did Genghis Khan’s successors create?
Which area served as a trade route between the
east and the west?
What does “Pax Mongolica” mean?
During the “Pax Mongolica,” the Mongols
guaranteed safe travel through the empire for
which three groups of people?
Impact on Russia

1240 - Mongols invaded Kiev under leadership of
Batu Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan)
Impact on Russia

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Mongols ruled Russia for 200
years
Russians could follow their local
customs, & tolerated
Christianity
demanded absolute obedience
& massive tributes from Russians
1156 - Moscow was founded;
princes in Moscow gained
power by helping the Mongols
suppress Russian revolts.
In 1480, Ivan III began to refuse
to pay tribute to Mongols &
eventually freed Moscow
Impact on
China
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Kublai Khan (1215-1294) came
to power in 1260.
Attacked & overwhelmed
China in 1279, founding the
Yuan Dynasty.
Kublai Khan united China &
opened it to foreign trade.
He tolerated Chinese culture &
made few changes to Chinese
system of government.
Chinese were kept out of high
offices, but were used to rule at
local level.
He led a period of increased
trade & encouraged foreigners
to visit.
Control over Russia & China
Why would allowing conquered people to practice
their local customs help the Mongols maintain
control of their territories?
Marco Polo
1254 - 1354
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Venetian trader who
arrived in China in 1275

Spoke several Asian
languages & worked for
Kublai Khan for 17 years

When he returned to
Europe, he wrote and
published stories of his
travels (many doubted
their truth)
Super Sleuth Check Point
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What did the Mongols demand from the
Russians?
In 1480, who refused to pay tribute to the
Mongols and eventually ended Mongol rule?
Who came to power in China in 1260?
Kublai Khan founded which Chinese dynasty?
What is one accomplishment of Kublai Khan and
the Yuan dynasty?
Which Venetian trader arrived in China in 1275?
What did Polo do when we returned to Europe?