Chapter 14 THE MONGOLS

Mongol Lands

Mongolian Steppes

Mongol Yurt

Who were the Mongols? Fierce Warriors Like Huns, Turks, the Mongols emerged as powerful nomadic people on Central Asian steppes Herded sheep, goats Skilled with horses Accustomed to living in harsh environment, competing for scarce resources Tough people, fierce warriors Fierce Warriors

From Temujin to “Universal Ruler” Born 1167 Orphaned at 10 “Mastered the art of steppe diplomacy” United Mongol tribes into a single confederation 1206 made Chinggis Khan Chinese depiction of Chinggis Khan

The wisdom of Chinggis Khan: “Man’s greatest joy is in victory: to conquer one’s enemies, to pursue them, to deprive them of their possessions, to make their beloved weep, to ride on their horses, and to embrace their wives and daughters…”

The MONGOLS Like Huns and other nomadic groups? Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws: If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity. If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children. If you do not have children, we will take your wife. If you do not have a wife, we will take your head. Used cruelty as a weapon  some areas never recovered from Mongol destruction! Like Huns and other nomadic groups?

Mongolian Conquests Second Period 1206 - 1219

Mongolian Conquests Third Period 1219 - 1223

Mongolian Conquests Fourth Period 1223 – 1227 Death of Chinggis Khan

Mongolian Conquests Fifth Period 1227 - 1237

Mongolian Conquests Sixth Period 1237 - 1259

Mongolian Conquests Seventh Period 1259 - 1279

Shortly after Chinggis Khan’s death, his empire split into four Khanates

Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294] Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”] Tolerated Chinese culture but lived apart from them.  No Chinese in top govt. posts. Believed foreigners were more trustworthy. Encouraged foreign trade & foreign merchants to live and work in China. Marco Polo

Marco Polo (1254-1324) A Venetian merchant. Traveled through Yuan China: 1271-1295 “Black Stones” [coal] Gunpowder. Noodles.

“Pax Mongolia?” Under the Mongols, there was unprecedented long-distance trade Mongols encouraged the exchange of people, technology, and information across their empire Weatherford: the Mongols were “civilization’s unrivaled cultural carriers…” Marco Polo en route to China

How did the Mongols affect the rest of the world? They brought the Black Plague to Western Europe Marmots, endemic on the steppe, carried it Besieging the city of Kalla on the Crimean Peninsula in 1346, Mongols threw bodies of those who died from the plague over the walls, infecting the population, who then spread it to Western Europe.

End of the Yuan Dynasty The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats. Kublai Khan had set sights on conquering Japan Tried to invade Japan twice Disastrous results each time Japan First attempt: 900 ships attacked Japan, storm destroyed fleet Second attempt: Khan sent larger fleet, severe storm again wiped out fleet Attacks After two fleets destroyed by storms, Mongols never attempted Japanese invasion Japanese called storms that saved them kamikaze, “divine wind” Kamikaze