The Mongols Unit4, October 30th and 31st

Why historically significant? “The Mongols made no technological breakthroughs, founded no new religions, wrote few books or dramas” Why historically significant?

The Mongol Empire at its height

Chronology of the Mongol Empire 1206-1227 Reign of Chinggis Khan 1211-1234 Conquest of northern China 1219-1221 Conquest of Persia 1237-1241 Conquest of Russia 1258 Capture of Baghdad 1264-1279 Conquest of southern China

The Mongols and Eurasian Empire Built the largest empire in history stretching from Poland to China 13.8 million square miles 100 million people Chinggis/Genghis Khan

Nomads of the Asian steppe Geography of the Steppe Dry grassland of Eurasia Two main expanses Central Asia to Eastern Europe Mongolia Climate Little rain Dramatic seasonal temperature differences Nomadic Way of Life Pastoralists Skilled horse riders Travel in clans

Nomads of the Asian Steppe Steppe Nomads and Settled Societies Often interact Some interactions peaceful = trade Sometimes nomads raid towns and cities Strong state or empire could protect its lands from these invasions

The rise of the Mongols Genghis Khan was born in 1167 and was known for uniting the Mongols In the early 1200s, he begins campaign of conquest By 1225, controls Central Asia Known as Genghis the Conqueror A brilliant organizer, strategist Uses brutality to terrorize enemies, force surrenders

Leader of the Mongols He mastered the art of steppe diplomacy which called for displays of personal courage in battle, combined with intense loyalty to allies, a willingness to betray others to improve one’s position and the ability to entice other tribes into cooperative relationships Was responsible for bringing together all Mongol tribes into a single confederation

The Mongol empire Death and Succession The Khanates Genghis Khan dies in 1227 Successors continue conquests for 50 years, but they divide up the Mongol Empire into four territories Conquer territory from China to Poland The Khanates In east, Mongols conquer northern China and invade Korea In west, Mongols take Kiev and threaten Vienna and Venice In 1250s, Mongols turn their attention to Persia By 1260, Mongol Empire split into khanates, four regions

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

The Mongol Art of War Great horsemen and archers who were deadly accurate Large, quickly moving armies “cutting edge weapons” Masters at psychological warfare by using combined fake retreats and slaughtering entire cities “By putting cities to the sword, they let terror run ahead of them” John Fairbank Their arrows could kill enemies at 200 meters (656 feet) If enemies surrendered without resistance, the Mongols usually spared their lives, and they provided generous treatment for artisans, craft workers, and those with military skills In the event of resistance, the Mongols ruthlessly slaughtered whole populations, sparing only a few, whom they sometimes drove their armies as human shields during future conflicts A “ger”

The Mongols as rulers The Mongol rulers are tolerant of other peoples, cultures Some Mongols adopt local ways, leading to split among khanates The Mongol Peace Peaceful period from mid-1200s to mid-1300s called Pax Mongolica Much east-west trade, exchange of ideas during this period

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

Kublai khan becomes emperor A New Emperor Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis, becomes great khan in 1260 Kublai conquers China by 1279 Beginning a New Dynasty Establishes Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368), period of peace, prosperity Kublai adopts Chinese ways, builds capital at Beijing Failure to Conquer Japan In 1274 and 1281, Kublai tries but fails to conquer Japan Massive second invasion destroyed by typhoon As Emperor of China, Kublai Khan encourages foreign trade and his government was administered by both Mongols and non-Chinese advisors He allowed religious freedom, but dismantled the Confucian exam system

Mongol rule in china The Mongols and the Chinese Foreign Trade Mongols live separately from Chinese, follow own laws Mongols keep top government posts, put Chinese in local positions Kublai extends Grand Canal to Beijing, builds highway Foreign Trade Trade increases under Kublai, sending Chinese products to other lands Kublai invites merchants from other lands to China

Mongol rule in china Marco Polo at the Mongol Court Venetian trader Marco Polo visits China in 1275 Polo returns to Venice in 1292; tells stories of what he saw in China fabulous cities, fantastic wealth Burning “black stones” (coal) to heat Chinese homes Kublai Khan’s government and trade in Beijing These stories gathered into a book; most readers doubt its truth

The end of Mongol rule Declining Power Yuan Dynasty Overthrown Failed expeditions to Southeast Asia show weakness of Yuan Dynasty High taxes cause resentment Yuan Dynasty Overthrown Kublai dies in 1294; successors are weak In 1300s, rebellions break out, leading to formation of Ming Dynasty Decline of the Mongol Empire Mongol rule collapses in Persia in 1330s; in Central Asia in 1370s By end of 1300s, only Mongol rule in Russia remains, the Golden Horde

Impact of the Mongols “The Mongols created a single economic, cultural, and epidemiological world system” Mongol Exchange New methods of warfare Trade from Venice to Beijing and beyond Demographic change via the plague and major population shifts Altered the political histories of Russia, China, Europe Unparalleled cultural diffusion