Chapter 11 – Cultures of East Asia
Section 2: The Mongol Empire
The Mongols were tough, skilled
warriors who lived in the saddle. They
could travel for days at a time on their
shaggy ponies, drinking mare's milk and
eating only a few handfuls of grain. They
were also considered the most skilled
horse riders in the world.
About 1200, the Mongols burst out of
Central Asia to conquer an empire
stretching across Asia and Europe. In the
process, they overran Song China and
imposed Mongol rule on its people.
Section 2 - The Mongol Empire
Main Idea
The Mongols built a vast empire across much of Asia,
founded the Yuan dynasty in China, and opened
China and the region to greater foreign contacts and
trade.
Objectives
• How did the nomadic Mongols build an empire?
• How did China change under the Mongol rulers of
the Yuan dynasty?
• Why did the Yuan dynasty decline and finally end?
I. The Mongols
c.1200 AD - Mongols came from central Asia to
create largest land empire in history
I. The Mongols
Mongols were nomadic warring clans led by a
khan; they herded horses, sheep, goats on
steppes north of China
I. The Mongols
1206 -Temujin united clans; took name
Genghis Khan; began campaign of conquest
Mongolians unveiled a statue of Khan in
Ulan Bator in 2006 to mark the 800th
anniversary of his rise to power
I. The Mongols
Used brutality, terror – Cavalry burned towns,
killed citizens, spread fear; people surrendered
without a fight
I. The Mongols
Faced problems when attacking China;
Chinese and Turkish military experts taught
siege warfare, use of gunpowder
I. The Mongols
1227 - Genghis Khan died; empire divided into
four khanates; Great Khan ruled over all
I. The Mongols
1240 - Batu invaded Europe with Golden Horde
I. The Mongols
Batu learned of Great Khan’s death and turned
back, sparing Western Europe
I. The Mongols
Mongols ruled peacefully - tolerated local
beliefs and ways of life but demanded tribute
I. The Mongols
Established period of peace and order - the
Pax Mongolia, or Mongol Peace
I. The Mongols
Political stability set the stage for economic
growth; trade flourished across Eurasia
I. The Mongols
Cultural diffusion increased - foods, tools,
inventions, ideas all spread with trade
II. The Yuan Dynasty
1279 - Kublai Khan defeated Song Dynasty;
ruled China, Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam
II. The Yuan Dynasty
Kublai adopted a Chinese name for his
dynasty, the Yuan
II. The Yuan Dynasty
Kublai ruled from Beijing, extended Grand
Canal, fostered trade with India and Persia
The Grand Canal of China is the
world's oldest and longest canal,
far surpassing the next two grand
canals of the world: Suez and
Panama Canal. The building of the
canal began in 486 B.C. during the
Wu Dynasty. It was extended
during the Qin Dynasty and
finished by the Sui Dynasty from
AD 605-610. The canal is 1,114
miles long with 24 locks and more
than 60 bridges.
II. The Yuan Dynasty
Marco Polo visited China during Yuan dynasty;
stayed for 17 years
Marco Polo (1254 –1324)
II. The Yuan Dynasty
Polo wrote about China’s wealth and
splendor; astonished readers in Europe
II. The Yuan Dynasty
Polo's reports sparked European interest in
riches of Asia
Silk Scarfs
Star Anise, Black & White
Pepper, Red Chiles,
Cinamon and Bay Leaves
III. End of the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan dynasty weakened; one cause - military
defeats in SE Asia and Japan’s kamikaze
III. End of the Yuan Dynasty
1294 - Kublai died; weak successors, floods,
famine and rebellion; 1368 Yuan overthrown
Huang He (Yellow River) – “China’s Sorrow”