THE MIDDLE AGES III
UNIT V
WRATH OF KHANS
While Europe was suffering from the fall of Rome in the era known as the Dark Ages in the West, the Far East (China)
and the Middle East flourished. However, when East meets West along the Silk Road, the consequences of Chinese
influence will have devastating effects, but will help Europe pull itself out of the Dark Ages as the smoke clears.
ANCIENT HISTORY OF ASIA
The history of China is of the rise and fall of ruling families known as dynasties that ruled China for thousands of years.
With periods of peace separated by civil wars with the 500 year Xia Dynasty becoming the first civilization to emerge
around the Yellow River in 2100B.C.
Zhou Dynasty (1027-221 B.C.) – the Zhou Dynasty took over in China introducing the “Mandate from Heaven”
philosophy as rulers said they had the authority of heave to rule
- as divinely guided rulers they were also responsible for ruling their empires with goodness and efficiency
known as “the way” or “Dao”.
Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.) – civil war breaks out in China between powerful states that fought for
complete control of China as the Zhou Dynasty is slowly overshadowed by rival states with the Qin
conquering them all to unite China
Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) – the Qin Dynasty took over in China following the Warring States Period giving
China its name (Ch’in = Qin) and began strong, centralized authority in China under China’s first emperor
- when nomadic tribes in the North threatened the border, the Qin connected and united existing walls
defenses into the beginnings of what would become the Great Wall of China in the 1300s
Terracotta Army – ‘constructed and placed at the burial site of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty
Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) – the Han Dynasty emerged out of a short civil war following the fall of the Qin
Dynasty setting the standard for the dynasties that followed spreading into Korea and Vietnam
- first dynasty to accept the Confucianism and its philosophy in civic (governmental) appointments by placing
people in power based on merit (being worthy) and introduces a civil service exam
- technology increases such as the creation of paper, advanced ships, and mass production of silk, which led
the dynasty to encounter Westerners from the Middle East and Europe through trade routes (Silk Road)
CHINA’S GOLDEN AGE
In the centuries following the Han Dynasty, China was disunited until the short lived Sui Dynasty appeared in the late 6th
century (500s) helping to complete the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world connecting the Yellow River to the
Yangtze River and the North to the South. This great feat would be one of many during China’s “golden age”.
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D. – the Tang Dynasty revitalized Confucian teachings and philosophy in governmental
management and expanded the Chinese empire to edge of the Middle East
- Silk Road reopened with caravans regularly trading goods in and out of Xi’an, (China’s then capital)
becoming the richest city in the world due to the increase in trade
- like medieval cities in Europe, the Chinese also developed systems of credit and banking to provide
merchants with easier methods to do business and keep up with the large foreign demand for Chinese
products in the growing birth of China’s market economy
- literacy flourished with the invention of the printing press using wood type to mass produce Chinese
knowledge in a “Golden Age”
- the Chinese were the first to invent porcelain and gunpowder, which they used for mines, rockets
flamethrowers, and bombs (the development of firearms wouldn’t occur for another 300 years)
Poor defenses and military strength under the Song Dynasty cause land routes in the north to be lost to invaders such as
the Mongols who finally conquered the Chinese in 1279 ending China’s golden age.
THE MONGOL EMPIRE
The Mongols were a nomadic equestrian people who were “born to the saddle” having a highly skilled and mobile
cavalry that few armies could handle. However, until the 13th century (1200s) the Mongols were a disunified tribal
people until the rise of Temüjin who would rise to be the “universal ruler”: Genghis Khan
The Middle Ages III
1
Temüjin (1206-1227) – a skilled diplomat, he forged alliances and helped unite the Mongol tribes into a large
confederation of Steep people that declared him the Great Khan or Genghis Khan in 1206
- his armies invaded China in 1211 and subdued the northern half by 1220 while the Song Dynasty still ruled
the southern half
- with his large equestrian army that could travel over 50 miles a day, he was able to surprise his enemies and
expand the Mongol Empire west into central Asia, Persia, and much of Russia
Ögodei Khan (1229-1241) – Temüjin’s son who sent armies, controlled by his nephew Batu Khan, west conquering
Western Asia and parts of Eastern Europe forming the Golden Horde province (Russia) of the Mongol Empire
that now stretched from the Sea of Japan to Hungary (largest land empire in history)
Kublai Khan (1264-1294) – Temüjin’s grandson who conquered southern China setting up the Yuan Dynasty and
adapting to Chinese culture during the height of the Mongol Empire
- Mongols pushed deeper into the Middle East conquering empires in Persia
Battle of Baghdad (1258) – the Mongols sack the center of Islamic power in the Middle East bringing an end to
the Islamic Golden Age
- Mongol invasion helped end the Islamic Empires in the Middle East setting the stage of the rise of the
Ottoman Turks in the 1300s
Marco Polo – Venetian merchant makes his journey to Mongolia and China to meet with Kublai Khan in 1274
becoming very close to Kublai Khan making many diplomatic missions through China for the Khan before
leaving after nearly 20 years in serves to the Khan
Kublai Khans death in 1294 would mark the height of Mongol power as the Mongols soon lost control over their large
empire as it seemed they were better conquers than administrators. The empire’s provinces in the China and Persia fell
quickly while the provinces of the Golden Horde (Russia) and the province of Central Asia remained for centuries.
OTTOMAN EMPIRE
During the Mongol’s conquest of the Middle East, they pushed other nomadic tribes into Anatolia where they soon
conquered the Seljuk Turks who had threatened the Byzantine Empire since the time of the Crusades.
Osman (1299-1326) – the leader of the Ottomans who conquered the Seljuk Turks and began their own empire
that spread into Palestine, Egypt and the Balkans increasing their territory as the Byzantines lost theirs
putting increasing pressure on the city of Constantinople
RECOVERY OF CHINA
In 1334, a deadly plague (bubonic plague) swept through the Chinese province of Quin, before spreading to most of
China, killing 25 million people and helping end Mongol control of China.
- the plague would spend a decade killing small kingdoms in and around the Silk Road, before reaching Caffa
and Constantinople on the outskirts of Europe in 1347 as the infamous Black Death that swept Europe
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) – the Ming Dynasty takes over in China and begins to expand outside its own borders
exploring the Indian Ocean with large treasure fleets, reaching as far as eastern Africa and setting up trade routes
- the capital of China is moved to Beijing where the Forbidden City is built in the 1400s
- by the end of this time period China greatly falls behind Europe in science, technology and military power
RISE OF RUSSIA
Since the 9th century (800s), Kiev Rus (centered at the city of Kiev (now in Ukraine)) was the greatest Russian kingdom
in eastern Europe until the Mongols destroyed it during the expansion of the Mongol province of the Golden Horde.
- as the Mongols never directly conquered Russia, only controlling it from afar, local princess in the city of
Moscow began to expand their control to neighboring territories including the Golden Horde
Ivan III (1462-1505) – a prince of Moscow who declared Russia independent from Mongol rule, eventually
overthrowing the Golden Horde and gaining control of upper Russia and Ukraine
Due to China and the rest of Asia’s inability to keep up with Europe, Europeans began to influence the world and
establish spheres of influence (area where a more powerful nation exercises its authority to suit its needs). However,
Europe is not immune to the problems of Asia as a deadly plague sweeps across the Silk Road to devastate Europe.
The Middle Ages III
2