Mongols Pastorial people from Mongolia. Organized into clans. Temujin – unified the Mongols and in 1206 elected Genghis Khan (strong ruler)

Land where Genghis was born. Mongolian Yurt

Mongolian Army Strength based on strategy & mobility (horse-back archers – each soldier had 2 up to 16 horses – could swap – had the technology of stirrup) – small units (10) to be able to deploy in ambushes and feint-retreat

all out attack on Europe Genghis Khan’s Empire Only death of Genghis stopped all out attack on Europe Defeated in 1258 Capital at Karakorum – but prohibited fellow Mongols from sedentary occupations or living in cities – but under successors will settle into administrative positions

Treatment of Conquered Territory by Mongols Used fear – would decimate towns. If one came out in open – would be saved; if tried to hide – would be killed. One town where son-in-law killed – he had it destroyed to the ground so that the land could now be plowed

After Death of Genghis Divided among heirs – khanates Began a movement against Persia & China. Learned gunpowder from China (now handguns & cannons)

Kublai Khan – 1279-1294 Grandson of Genghis. Conquered Song Dynasty established new dynasty – Yuan (good at adapting to Chinese politics – except highest positions reserved for Mongols) Marco Polo visits China and was impressed by court of Kublai Khan. Pax Mongolia Expanded into Vietnam

Mongols in China Government – favored Mongols and allied Islamic peoples over Chinese (even gave administrative jobs to foreign merchants like Marco Polo), did not like Confucianism so no Civil Service Exam – scholar-gentry very angry over this. Class Distinctions- intermarriage prohibited, Chinese forbidden to learn Mongol script – but Kublai was fascinated with Chinese court practices Mongol Women – refused to practice foot binding, some continued to hunt and fight in war – but Mongol stay in China too short to influence China’s long-standing Confucian treatment of women. Religion – although traditionally animist, Khans very interested in other religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Daoist and Muslims all in Khan’s court)

Under Pax Mongolia - Trade flourished, and travelers such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo were able to write remarkable accounts of the lands they visited, but led to bubonic plague, also opened up. The Black Death, originating in Central Asia, was one of a succession of plagues that followed the trade routes by land and sea, decimating parts of Europe and China.

Collapse Too much money spent on conquest Internal corruption Peasant overthrew government and established Ming Dynasty

Mongol Empire

Golden Horde (Tartars) One of the khanates or grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu Khan, advanced far into eastern Europe and established in 1251 the rule of the Golden Horde in Russia. As a result, Russia experienced a cultural decay and isolation from Europe - reason for why Russia is part of Asia during Middle Ages.

Japan’s Kamikaze 1274, 1281 Tried to go against Japan but horse archery not successful against islands According to myth twice Japan saved by “kamikaze” divine winds or typhoons (Reality – ships were flat bottom boats – not good for rough sea; also may have been sabotaged by Korean shipbuilders upset with Mongols)

Aug 2010 The leadership of Genghis Khan, the use of the stirrup, and excellent horsemanship skills all contributed directly to the (1) collapse of Silk Road trade (2) defeat of Tokugawa Japan (3) beginning of European exploration (4) rise of the Mongol Empire

January 2013 One important impact of the Mongol expansion across Asia and Europe was the (1) increased authority of the Kievan princes (2) rise in trade along the Silk Roads (3) introduction of Hinduism into Chinese culture (4) maritime exploration of the Arabian seacoast

June 2012 Which areas did the Mongols conquer and incorporate into their empire? (1) China, Russia, and Iran (2) Axum, Zimbabwe, and West Africa (3) Spain, France, and Egypt (4) Japan, India, and eastern Europe

Aug 2011 For a variety of reasons, groups have set out to conquer other regions or people using various methods of force. These groups include the Mongols, the Spanish, and the Ottoman. Their conquests have had an impact on both the conqueror and the conquered. • Explain a reason for the conquest • Explain how the conquest was achieved • Discuss an impact of the conquest

AP Practice In China, the Mongols broke with Chinese traditions by forbidding foreign merchants to enter the country. encouraging the Confucian system of education. continuing civil service examinations. imposing foot-biding on their women. allowing foreign administrators to enter China.

AP Practice The Mongols a. succeeded in their attempt to conquer Japan. b. facilitated trade along the Silk Roads. c. constructed cities and irrigation systems during their conquest of Persia. d. had little respect for craftsmen and their work. e. established no communications with western Europe.

AP Practice The Mongol Empire was divided into four Khanates, which governed all of the following lands EXCEPT a. China b. Korea c. Russia d. Persia e. Japan