SPICE of Nomadic Empires and Mongolians Ch 17

Social Many nomadic groups organized by clans and tribes Nomadic society had only 2 ranks: nobles and commoners Mongols chose the high officials on talent (leadership and military strength) and loyalty Mongols “took” skilled people from many regions and relocated them where needed such as artisans and scholars In Yuan Dynasty (China), intermarriage was outlawed with Mongols

Political Khans or rulers organized individual tribes, excellent cavalry and bow skills Saljuq Turks- moved into Abbasid areas then ruled Syria, Palestine region, eventually defeating Byzantine army in Anatolia (Turkey) transforming it to Islam Mongols- led by Chinggis (Genghis) Khan organized tribes into military units- later his grandson Kublai Khan adds conquests Conquers (1) Northern China (Yuan Dynasty) first then runs heavy forces and psychological warfare to overthrow and create khanates in (2) Persia (ilkhanate of), (3) Russia (Golden Horde), (4) Central Asia (Chaghatai) Decline- excessive spending, currency problems, power struggles, and Bubonic Plague of 1330s Russia and central Asia khanates continue until mid 1500s

Political After Mongols Tamerlane (the lame) rose to power and conquered Persia and Afghanistan in 1360s, then attacked Golden Horde and northern India After death, his heirs struggle and divide empire into 4 regions, by the 1500s the regions were absorbed by the Mughals, Safavids and Ottomans Ottomans Large groups of Turks move to Anatolia (Turkey) Osman the great, started a state independent from the Saljuq sultan in 1299 Ottomans went on to conquer in 1350s the Balkans (Greece region) and in 1453 Constantinople, renamed Istanbul Ottoman empire kept land until the 1920s!

Interaction of Humans/Environment Nomads needed to keep migrating in the steppes region of Central Asia (most didn’t farm, instead herded animals) Steppes were good for grazing, had little rain and few rivers (not good for farming) Lived mostly on animal products, and produced limited amounts of goods- so they relied on making trades along borders of settled regions Bubonic Plague- undermine the Mongol regime

Culture Mixture of religions- shamanism, Buddhism, Christianity, later on Islam In Yuan Dynasty- Mongols resented Chinese and separated (but tolerated) their cultures as much as possible (didn’t want them to gain strength) Brought in foreign administrators, ended civil service exams In Persia- after the khan Ghazan converted to Islam, ordered massacre of Christians and Jews Once a region conquered, they generally let people keep customs as long as they abide by Mongol governance

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!

Paper money problems led to decline in 2 khanates Economics Needed to trade to get goods not produced, many were close to caravan routes Once Mongols began khanates, they secured trade routes for safety and made stations to promote trade (Pax Mongolica) Paper money problems led to decline in 2 khanates Tried to be diplomatic with Saljuqs in Persia but once rejected they destroyed many cities and qanats