The Mongols
 Atlas
: “The Mongol Empire Spans Eurasia”
Graphic Novel “Divine Wind”:
Surmise what might have happened if a
typhoon had not struck when it did.
 Would the Japanese have been able to protect
their island from the invaders without the
Divine Wind?

Rewrite
and illustrate the end of
this graphic novel to reflect your
opinions. (Comic book ending).
Read the background essay on the Mongols
together.
 Write:
 1. Take turns reading paragraphs to each
other.
 2. Write a brief sentence describing the main
idea for each paragraph.
 3.Combine to make a one paragraph summary
of the Mongols background essay.
 4. Individually, use these sentences to make
an introductory paragraph. Don’t forget the
thesis statement!

The Mongols
Overview
The End of the Golden Age of China

Despite the wealth & culture during under the Tang & Song
Dynasties, the Chinese were briefly overthrown by the
Mongols. From 1279 to 1368, foreign nomads called the
Mongols ruled China
Aim: Who were the Mongols, and what influence did
they have on varying regions & people?
Do Now:

1. Do Now (work quietly):
 What comes to mind when you see or hear of the word, Mongol?
– In your own words (from the top of your heads/without the use
of the text/notes) – who were the Mongols?
– Students are asked to write at least one paragraph examining
the people/group in question. Bring forth what you know
surrounding this group of misunderstood/misrepresented people.
Who were the Mongols?
The Mongols were among the
numerous nomadic tribes who
lived in Central Asia
Who were the Mongols?
The Mongols lived in the harsh
climate of the Eurasian steppe,
an area with little rain &
extreme temperatures
Mongol life centered
on herding animals,
especially horses
Mongols lived as nomadic
clans, constantly searching
for better pasture lands
As a result
of
their
lifestyle,
the
Mongols
were
tough
Who
were
the
Mongols?
warriors who occasionally raided nearby settlements
From 1200 to 1206, a clan
leader named Genghis
Khan unified the Mongols
Genghis Khan built a
powerful Mongol army
& began a 21-year
conquest of Eurasia
Russia
Under Genghis & later khans,
the Mongols conquered…
Central Asia
the Islamic Empire
China
Korea
How did the Mongols create
this massive empire?
Mongol soldiers were excellent
horsemen; Used the horse saddle
to shoot arrows while riding
How did the Mongols create
this massive empire?
If an enemy refused
As the Mongol reputation
to surrender, Genghis
spread,
many towns
Genghis was
a brilliant
military
would order the death
surrendered
to Genghis
organizer
& strategist,
but his
of the entire population
without
a fight& fear
greatest tactic
was terror
“In the countries that have not yet been overrun
by them, everyone spends the night afraid that
they may appear there too.” (Arab historian)
The Impact of the Mongol Empire
The Mongols were
Mongol khans (rulers) often
merciless in battle,
adopted parts of the culture
but tolerant as rulers of the people they conquered
In the East, Mongols
embraced Chinese culture
In the West, Mongols
converted to Islam
ChineseImpact
technologies
The
of
the
Mongol
Empire
like gunpowder &
But diseases
like theto
Mongol
khans
The
era
from
the
mid-1200s
the magnetic compass
plague (Black
Death)
brought
stability
&
the
mid-1300s
is
called
the
reached Europe
reached
EuropePeace”)
too
order to Eurasia Pax Mongolica
(“Mongol
During the Pax Mongolica,
the Mongols guaranteed
safe passage across the
Silk Road
As a result, trade
& cultural diffusion
increased between
Europe & Asia
After the death of Genghis Khan, the Mongol
Empire was divided into 4 major khanates
each ruled by a son or grandson of Genghis
The Mongol destruction
of Kiev increased the
importance of Moscow
in Russia
The khanate in Persia
helped control the
Silk Road
The Mongols were the
first non-Muslims to rule
over the Islamic Empire
After the death of Genghis Khan, the Mongol
Empire was divided into 4 major khanates
each ruled by a son or grandson of Genghis
But the most significant
khanate was the Mongol
rule over China
In 1279, Genghis’
grandson Kublai Khan
became the first foreign
leader to rule China
Kublai enjoyed Chinese
Kublai Khan began a
Khanso much that he
new era in China Kublai
called culture
moved the Mongolian
the Yuan Dynasty
capital to China
But, he excluded the Chinese from
serving in high gov’t offices & relied on
foreigners to serve in his government
Kublai proved to
be a good emperor
for China
Under Kublai, foreign trade
with China increased due to
the Pax Mongolica
He built roads & extended the
Grand Canal to help improve
transportation in China
In 1275, a European
Kublai
was so impressed
Marco
Polo
merchant named
with Marco Polo that he
Marco Polo visited
employed him in the
Kublai Khan’s court
Yuan gov’t for 17 years
When Marco Polo returned
to Italy in 1792, his stories of
China increased European
demand for Asian trade
By the time of Kublai’s death in 1294, the
In 1480,
under
IvanEmpire
III Russia
gained
entire
Mongol
was
growing weak
independence from Mongol rule &
started the Romanov Dynasty
In 1370, the Mongols lost
control of Central Asia
In 1330, the Mongols
lost control of Persia
In 1368, the Chinese
overthrew the Mongols &
started the Ming Dynasty
In 1368, the Chinese overthrew the
Mongols & established the Ming Dynasty
The Ming emperors
encourage overseas trade…
Mongols
This is another overview
from another source
Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration
26
Nomadic Economy and Society


Rainfall in central Asia too little to support large-scale
agriculture
Grazing animals thrive, central Asians turn to animal
herding
– Food
– Clothing
– Shelter (yurts)


Migratory patterns to follow pastureland
Small-scale farming, rudimentary artisanry
27
Nomads in Turkmenistan
28
Nomadic Economy

Trade links between nomadic and sedentary
peoples
 Nomads engage in long-distance travel
– Caravan routes
29
Nomadic Society



Governance basically clan-based
Charismatic individuals become nobles, occasionally
assert authority
Unusually fluid status for nobility
– Hereditary, but could be lost through incompetence
– Advancement for meritorious non-nobles
30
Nomadic Religion




Shamans center of pagan worship
Appeal of Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Islam,
Manichaeism from 6th century CE
Turkish script developed, partially to record religious
teachings
Conversion to Islam in 10th century due to Abbasid
influence
31
Military Organization

Large confederations under a khan
 Authority extended through tribal elders
 Exceptionally strong cavalries
– Mobility
– Speed
32
Chinggis Khan (1167-1227) and the
Making of the Mongol Empire





Temüjin, b. 1167
Father prominent warrior, poisoned c. 1177, forced into
poverty
Mastered steppe diplomacy, elimination of enemies
Brought all Mongol tribes into one confederation
1206 proclaimed Chinggis Khan (Genghis – same guy,
different spelling based on translations): “Universal
Ruler”
33
Mongol Political Organization

Broke up tribal organization
 Formed military units from men of different
tribes
 Promoted officials on basis of merit and
loyalty
 Established distinctly non-nomadic capital at
Karakorum
34
Mongol Arms

Mongol population only 1 million (less than
1% of Chinese population)
– Army c. 100-125,000

Strengths:
– Cavalry
– Short bows
– Rewarded enemies who surrender, cruel to
enemies who fight
35
Mongol Conquests

Conquest of China by 1220
 Conquest of Afghanistan, Persia
– emissaries murdered, following year Chinggis
Khan destroys ruler

Ravaged lands to prevent future rebellions
– Large-scale, long-term devastation
36
The Mongol Empires after Chinggis
Khan
37
Khubilai Khan (r. 1264-1294)



Grandson of Chinggis Khan
Rule of China
Ruthless warrior, but religiously tolerant
– Hosted Marco Polo



Established Yuan dynasty (to 1368)
Unsuccessful forays into Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma,
Java
Two attempted invasions of Japan (1274, 1281) turned
back by typhoons (kamikaze: “divine winds”)
38
The Golden Horde

Conquest of Russia, 1237-1241
– Established tributary relationship to 15th century
– Rule over Crimea to late 18th century

Raids into Poland, Hungary, Germany
39
The Ilkhanate of Persia

Abbasid empire toppled
 Baghdad sacked, 1258
– 200,000 massacred

Expansion into Syria checked by Egyptian
forces
40
Mongol Rule in Persia

Nomadic conquerors had to learn to rule sedentary
societies
– Inexperienced, Lost control of most lands within a century

Persia: dependence on existing administration to deliver
tax revenues
– Left matters of governance to bureaucracy

Eventually assimilated into Islamic lifestyle
41
Mongol Rule in China

Strove to maintain strict separation from
Chinese
– Intermarriage forbidden
– Chinese forbidden to study Mongol language

Imported administrators from other areas (esp.
Arabs, Persians)
 Yet tolerated religious freedoms
42
The Mongols and Buddhism

Shamanism remains popular
 Lamaist school of Buddhism (Tibet) gains
strength among Mongols
– Large element of magic, similar to shamanism
– Ingratiating attitude to Mongols: khans as
incarnations of Buddha
43
The Mongols and Western
Integration

Experience with long-distance trade
– Protection of traveling merchants
– Volume of trade across central Asia increases

Diplomatic missions protected
 Missionary activity increases
 Mongol resettlement policies
44
Decline of the Mongol Empire in
Persia


Overspending, poor tax returns from overburdened
peasantry
Ilkhan attempts to replace precious metal currency with
paper in 1290s
– Failure, forced to rescind


Factional fighting
Last Ilkhan dies without heir in 1335, Mongol rule
collapses
45
Decline of the Yuan Dynasty in
China





Mongols spend bullion that supported paper currency
Public loses confidence in paper money, prices rise
From 1320s, major power struggles
Bubonic plague spreads 1330-1340s
1368 Mongols flee peasant rebellion
46
Surviving Mongol Khanates

Khanate of Chaghatai in central Asia
– Continued threat to China

Golden Horde in Caucasus and steppes to mid16th century
– Continued threat to Russia
47
Tamerlane the Conquerer (c. 13361405)

Turkish conqueror Timur
– Timur the Lame: Tamerlane

United Turkish nomads in Khanate of
Chaghatai
 Major military campaigns
– Built capital in Samarkand
– Tamerlane defeats Ottoman forces in 1402, but
Ottomans recover by 1440s
48
Tamerlane's empire about 1405
C.E.
49
Tamerlane’s Heirs

Poor organization of governing structure
 Power struggles divide empire into four
 Yet heavily influenced several empires:
– Mughal
– Safavid
– Ottoman
50