The Mongols

I. Background The Mongols were nomads from the eastern steppe (fields) in loosely organized clans.

II. Unification Around 1200, a clan leader named Temujin defeated rival clan leaders to unify the Mongols In 1206, he accepted the title Genghis Khan, or “universal ruler.”

DON’T WRITE THIS! According to legend, Temujin was born with a blood clot in his fist. In his lifetime, his hands were covered with the blood of others. When Temujin was about nine, the Tatars, a rival clan, poisoned his father. When in manhood, he fought and defeated the Tatars, slaughtering every male taller than a cart axel.

III. The Mongol “War Machine” Mongols were skilled horsemen Weapons 1. bows, swords, javelins, hooked lances, canons (new technology used to defeat the Chinese)

1. Mock retreats tricked the enemy 2. Flag signals C. Strategy- 1. Mock retreats tricked the enemy 2. Flag signals 3. Terrified enemies into surrender If a city refused to open its gates to him, he might kill the entire population upon capture DON’T WRITE THIS!

D. Many areas invaded by the Mongols never recovered; their populations were wiped out. E. The Mongols also destroyed ancient irrigation systems, so the land could not resettle.

DON’T WRITE THIS! Mongol armies developed a system of signal flags used during battle. The black and white flags transmitted orders to Mongol units who moved swiftly while confusing and overwhelming their disorganized opponents. At night, lanterns and flaming arrows were used in place of flags.

DON’T WRITE THIS! Each Mongol soldier wore a long silk undershirt. When hit with an arrow, he could remove it by carefully pulling on the silk, which usually entered the wound with the arrow. Upon witnessing Mongols pulling arrows from their bodies, some became convinced that the Mongols were superhuman!

DON’T WRITE THIS! Mongol soldiers often died of infection from battle wounds caused, in part, to poor hygiene. Mongol warriors rarely washed. When they did, they used urine from their horses. Their clothing was often worn until it literally rotted off.

IV. Vast Empire Genghis conquered Central Asia by 1225. The Mongols continued to conquer Asia.

Mongolia and China Russia Central Asia Persia C. By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge empire into four regions, or khanates. A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate. Mongolia and China Central Asia Russia Persia

D. While ferocious in war, Mongols were tolerant rulers.

V. The Pax Mongolia Mongol Peace The Mongols provided stability and order across Eurasia. Traders and travelers enjoyed safety along the Silk Road.

Trade between Europe and Asia skyrocketed but disease, like the plague, also spread.

VI. Kublai Khan Genghiz Khan’s grandson. He founded the Yuan dynasty in China The Chinese resented him for reserving gov’t jobs for Mongols.

Kublai’s Impact on China Opened Asia to greater trade on the Silk Road. United China for the first time in over 300 years. Kublai’s Impact on China Built a new capital in China (Khanbalik), a sign that Kublai was emperor of China. Tolerated Chinese culture and made few changes to system of govern-ment.

DON’T WRITE THIS! The walls were covered with gold and silver and the Dining Hall was so large that it could easily dine 6,000 people. The palace was made of cane supported by 200 silk cords, which could be taken to pieces and transported easily when the Emperor moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud of 10,000 white horses, whose milk was reserved for his family and for a tribe which had won a victory for Genghis Khan.

D. Marco Polo, an Italian merchant, stayed in Kublai’s court for 17 years. He sparked interest in more trade with Asia when he returned to Europe.

VII. Decline Lands were too large and diverse to govern effectively.

Mongols had little experience in gov’t.

After the death of the Khans, the Mongols got pushed back behind the Great Wall.

The Russians resented the Mongols for centuries of isolation

Mongol Empire Textbook – page 309 From World History: Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003