The Mongol’s Place In
World History
Nomadic Empires
Overview
 Nomadic herders populated the steppes of Asia for centuries
during the classical and postclassical eras and periodically
came into contact and conflict with the established states and
empires of the Eurasian land mass. It was not until the
eleventh century, however, that the nomadic peoples like the
Turks and Mongols began to raid, conquer, rule, and trade
with the urban-based cultures in a systematic and far-reaching
manner. While these resourceful and warlike nomads often
left a path of destruction in their wake, they also built vast
transregional empires that laid the foundations for the
increasing communication and exchange that would
characterize the period from 1000 to 1500 in the eastern
hemisphere. The success of these nomadic empires in this era
can be attributed to
Unique traits
 Their unmatched skill on horseback. When organized
on a large scale these nomads were practically
indomitable in warfare. Outstanding cavalry forces,
skilled archers, and well-coordinated military
strategy gave these peoples an advantage that was
difficult for even the most powerful states to counter.
 Their ability to integrate vast territories through
secure trade routes, exceptional courier networks,
diplomatic missions, missionary efforts, and
resettlement programs.
Impact?
 In spite of these successes and the enormous
influence of these nomadic peoples, their
leaders were, in general, better at warfare
than administration. With the exception of
the later Ottoman empire, most of these states
were relatively short-lived, brought down by
both internal and external pressures.

Migration and Expansion
 Nomads live off their animals and follow
their migratory patterns.
 Limited agriculture—geographical
limitations.
The Mongol Way of Life
Mongolian Animals
 Sheep
 Goat
 Yaks
 Oxen
 Camels
Mongolian Housing: Yurt (Gert)
Religion
 Shamanism
 Buddhism
 Nestorian Christianity
 Islam in the 13th century
Chinggis Khan
 Father assassinated
when he was
young.
 Showed
phenomenal
charisma in his
ability to unify the
Mongolian tribes.
Temujin
 Once Chinggis had
succeeded in bringing
the Mongols together,
in 1206, a meeting of
the so-called Khuriltai
(an assemblage of the
Mongol nobility) gave
their new leader the
title of "Chinggis
Khan": Khan of All
Between the Oceans.
Chinggis's
personal/birth name
was Temujin;
Organization
 He organized his people
into units of ten, a hundred,
a thousand, and ten
thousand, and the head of a
unit of ten thousand would
have a strong personal
relationship with Chinggis
himself. That kind of
loyalty was to be extremely
important in Chinggis's rise
to power and in his ability
to maintain authority over
all the various segments of
his domain.
Capital at Karakorum
Retreat!
 superiority in warfare. One particularly
effective tactic Chinggis liked to use was the
feigned withdrawal: Deep in the throes of a
battle his troops would withdraw, pretending
to have been defeated. As the enemy forces
pursued the troops that seemed to be fleeing,
they would quickly realize that they'd fallen
into a trap, as whole detachments of men in
armor or cavalries would suddenly appear and
overwhelm them.
Use of horses
 The Mongols prized
their horses primarily
for the advantages they
offered in warfare. In
combat, the horses
were fast and flexible,
and Chinggis Khan
was the first to
capitalize fully on
these strengths.
 After hit-and-run raids, for example, his
horsement could race back and quickly
disappear into their native steppes. Enemy
armies from the sedentary agricultural
societies to the south frequently had to
abandon their pursuit because they were not
accustomed to long rides on horseback and
thus could not move as quickly
Bows
 The Mongols had
developed a composite
bow made out of sinew
and horn and were
skilled at shooting it
while riding, which
gave them the upper
hand against ordinary
foot soldiers. With a
range of more than 350
yards, the bow was
superior to the
contemporaneous
English longbow,
whose range was only
250 yards
Battle Gear
 Chinggis Khan
personally led three
campaigns.
Mongol Conquest of Northern
China: Tanguts
 In 1209, Chinggis set forth on a campaign
against the Tanguts, who had established a
Chinese-style dynasty known as the Xia, in
Northwest China, along the old silk roads.
The Tanguts had become involved in a trade
dispute with the Mongols. Chinggis quickly
overwhelmed the Tanguts, received what he
wanted in terms of a reduction of the tariffs
the Tanguts imposed on trade, and returned
to Mongolia. He did not capitalize upon his
victory, this time, to expand the Mongols'
territory.
Jin
 The second campaign was against the Jin dynasty of
North China, which controlled China down to the
Yangtze River. The Jin were a people from
Manchuria and were actually the ancestors of the
Manchus. They too had become involved in a trade
dispute with the Mongols, and the result was an
attack by the Mongols, who desperately needed the
products the Jin produced. By 1215, Chinggis's
troops had seized the area now known as Beijing
and defeated the Jin, forcing them to move their
capital south. Chinggis had what he wanted in
terms of additional trade — again, he returned to
Mongolia
Khwarazam
 After devoting considerable time to logistical
planning, Chinggis organized a major force and
finally set forth against Central Asia in 1219. This
would be the most devastating of his campaigns.
Both sides engaged in mass slaughter, and it took
several years for Chinggis to successfully penetrate
and conquer the great centers of Central Asia. And
when he left Central Asia in 1225, Chinggis didn't
pull out all his forces as he had in his previous
campaigns. This time, Chinggis left behind Mongol
troops to occupy the lands he had conquered.
Death of Chinggis Khan
Legacy of Ghengis Khan
• his tolerance of many religions
• his creation of the Mongols' first script
• his support for trade and crafts—Silk
Road
• his creation of a legal code specific to the
Mongols' pastoral-nomadic way of life
Mongol Conquest of Persia
 Destroyed Qanats
 Destroyed Persian cities such as Herat
Division of the Empire: Area I
 Khublai Khan: Chinggis Khan’s grandson:
consolidated Mongol rule in China
 Destroyed Song Dynasty in 1279
Yuan China (Great Khanate)
 Mongolia and China
Mongol China
 Supported Islam,
and
Christianity…prom
oted Buddhism.
 Condemned
Daoism, sided with
Buddhism
 Unsuccessful in his
conquest of
Vietnam, Burma,
and Japan.
Kublai’s diversity
 He gathered together
Muslims from Central
Asia and Persia (as shown
in this Persian work),
Buddhists from Tibet,
Christians from Europe,
Nestorians from West
Asia, Uyghur Turks from
Northwest China, and
Confucians from Korea,
along with numerous
Chinese, to serve in the
bureaucracy that
administered the socalled "Middle Kingdom
of China
Learning
 Invited Persians
and other groups to
China to “beef up”
intelligentsia in
Yuan China.
Arts: Painting and Calligraphy
Seperation
 Outlawed intermarriage between Mongols and
Chinese
 Forbade Chinese from learning Mongol
language
 Brought foreigners into govern, lack of
confidence in Chinese…disdain for
Confucianism.
 Dismantled civil service system
 Noted tolerance for traditions and religions.
Trade and Commerce
 Overturned Chinese
society by promoting
the Silk Roads and
guaranteeing liberty
and social standing
for Merchants.
 Postal system,
unified system of
money
 Diplomatic missions
with Europe.
Marco Polo
 Chronicling the
Mongol court from
the inside out.
The Golden Horde
Area #2: The Golden Horde
 Overran Russia in 1237
 Moved into Eastern Europe: Poland,
Hungary, and East Germnay
 Controlled area until 15th century
Chaghatai Khanate
 Given to a son of Ghengis
Khan in Central Asia
 Precursor to “Timurad”
state
Chaghatai Khanate: Area #3
 Central Asia
 This area will be in constant conflict with
area #1-China under Kublai Khan
The Ilkhanate of Persia: Area #4
 The third segment in West Asia was known
as the Ilkhanids. The Ilkhanids had been
created as a result of the military exploits of
Khubilai Khan's brother Hulegu, who had
finally destroyed the Abbasid Dynasty in
West Asia by occupying the city of Baghdad,
the capital city of the Abbasids, in 1258.
IlKhanate-Persia
 Kublai’s brother and




grandson of Ghengis.
Incorporated Persian
governmental principles
“Mongol catastrophe”
Spread and embraced
Islam.
Intolerance towards
Christians and Jews
under Ilkhan Ghazan.
Decline of the Mongols




Collapse of the Ilkhanate in Persia
Excessive spending
Leadership struggle.
Collapse of Yuan Dynasty-Red Turban
Rebellion
 Depopulation/labor shortage--Plague
 Resurgence of Chinese
 Rise of Gunpowder Empires