Mongol Conquests
Background As the Chinese enjoy the Song Dynasty… An enemy to the north was starting to gain strength
Asian Steppe Two purposes Trade route connecting East to West Home to nomadic people
Asian Steppe http://www.mefrg.org/habitat.asp
Yurt http://www.yurtinfo.org/yurtstory.php
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Nomadic People Pastoralists – Herded domestic animals Always on the move following seasonal patterns in clans Depended on animals to survive Used to hardship and scarcity Makes for tough people
Why were the people of the steppe region nomadic? Dry, windswept land makes poor farmland
Mongols For years have been divided into nomadic tribes Leadership? Temujin otherwise known as Genghis Khan or “Universal Ruler”
Genghis Khan In 1200, united the Mongols under common goal First step to invade China Destroying one city at a time 1225 Central Asia under Mongol control
Genghis Khan “Man’s greatest fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, and ride his horse.”
Key Characteristics of Genghis Khan Brilliant Organizer Strategic Genius Ferocious – No mercy
What are advantages to using cruelty as a weapon? Some enemies surrendering without a fight What are some disadvantages? Unrest among survivors
New Leadership Genghis dies from illness Successors continue to expand empire Created largest unified land empire in history
Mongols as Leaders Some conquered areas never recovered Tigris & Euphrates River valleys could no longer support settlements Rarely imposed beliefs on conquered people Often adopted aspects of different cultures
Mongol Peace Imposed stability and law over area Safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries Ideas and inventions as well as trade goods were shared
Mongol Empire Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis United China Greater foreign contacts & trade Mongols lived separately from Chinese
Mongol Empire Marco Polo From Venice Sent by Kublai Khan to Chinese cities on missions Stories of mission made into book Fails to mention many aspects of Chinese culture Some doubt Polo’s word
End of Empire Kublai Khan’s death Rebellion of Chinese Natural disasters & economic problems 1368 Mongol Empire overthrown
Complete Mongol Fighting Force Notes & Map