The Impact of
the Mongols
Carl Ernst
Introduction to Islamic Civilization
General remarks
Mongol conquests much greater than Arab
conquests, but short-lived
Christian fantasies of Prester John,
Christian king of the East (who would
attack Muslims)
Destruction of cities followed by rebuilding,
flourishing long-distance trade (Marco
Polo), and even an expansion and
flourishing of Islamic civilization
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Outline
Mongol khanates
A. Qipchaq
B. Il-Khans
C. Chaghatay
New centers of Islamic culture
A. Mamluks (Egypt)
B. Delhi Sultanate
C. Ottomans
Scourges (plague, Timur)
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1. After Chingiz Khan (d. 1227):
4 Mongol Khanates
Qipchaq Khanate (Golden Horde), on
Eurasian steppes
Il-khanate (Persia)
Chaghatay Khanate (Central Asia)
Great Khanate or Yuan Dynasty (Mongolia,
China)
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5
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A. Qipchaq khanate (Golden
Horde)
Collected tribute from Russians without
integrating into Russian society
Like most Mongols, tolerated religious
missionaries of various types (insurance
policy?)
Gradual Islamization
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B. Il-khans (Persia)
Hulagu rebuilds destroyed cities,
astronomical observatory at Maragha
Devastation of northern Iran and Iraq
First successors leaned towards Buddhism
and Christianity
In 1295, Ghazan converts to Islam
Thriving culture and art
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Ceramic prayer niche (Iran, 14thcentury)
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Tent mosque; Qur’an page
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Circular Royal tapestry
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C. Chaghatay Khanate (later
known as Uzbeks)
Remained nomadic
A coalition of Mongols, Turks, and Uighurs
In 1326, Tarmashirin converts to Islam and
orders all others to follow
Empire collapses shortly afterward
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2. New Centers of Islamic
Culture: A. Mamluk Egypt
Defeated Mongols in 1260 in Palestine
Occupied Syria, Arabia
Import of slaves for military leadership
Loyalty to Amirs as core virtue, distance
from local society, need for replacements
Political instability
Good relations with Byzantines, Italians
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Mosque and madrasa of Sultan
Hasan (Cairo, 14th century)
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B. Delhi Sultanate
Ghurids conquered Punjab and Delhi 1193,
expanding into Ganges region
Turkish Sultans with military slave
background, Persian culture
Resisted Mongol expeditions
Expanded empire to South (2nd capital)
Delhi a magnet for scholars and artisans
Coexistence with vast Hindu majority
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Expansion and decline of Delhi
Sultanate
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Qutb
Minar
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C. Ottoman Sultanate
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Rise of Ottomans
Succeed Saljuqs, who established Persian
culture in Konya, though they remained
subject to Mongols
Ghazi raiders against Byzantines eventually
establish state, expand into Balkans
Recruitment of Christian knights (siege of
Kosovo in 1389 – Serbian national myth)
Forcible enrollment of Christian youths in
military and bureaucracy (devshirme)
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Konya
Tomb of
Rumi
(d. 1273)
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3. Scourges
Black plague causes massive devastation
Timur (Tamerlane) creates a neo-Mongol
empire, causing great destruction.
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Final thoughts
Why did the Mongols not have a longerlasting civilization?
Confrontations with Christian powers in
name of God (Tenggri) who gave authority
to Chingiz Khan
Confrontations with Turkish rulers of Delhi
Sultanate: is the Mongol law (yasa) stronger
than Islamic shari`a?
Weakness of non-textual cultures
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