Mongolian National Folklore Ensemble, “Praise of Altai Mountains,” Voices of the Steppe

The Rise of the Mongols

The East Asian Cycle of Relations between Nomads and Settled Peoples Steppe peoples need goods produced by settled agriculturists Settled agriculturists have some use for steppe goods

Strong Chinese state, plus a strong steppe empire, followed by, Simultaneous collapse, followed by,

Conquest of North China by a foreign (Manchurian) dynasty, followed by, Restoration of native Chinese dynasty and rise of a Steppe Empire

Conquest of North China by a foreign (Manchurian) dynasty, followed by, Restoration of native Chinese dynasty and rise of a Steppe Empire

Ch’in and Han (221 BC- 220 AD) Sui and T’ang ( ) Sung ( ) Hsiung-nu (209 BC AD First Turkish, Second Turkish, Third Turkish ( ) Mongols

Chingiz Khan’s Unusual Rise Usual paths to power in the steppe –Hereditary rulers of established and united tribes –Reorganizers of a disintegrating nomadic state –Election

Chingiz Khan’s Unusual Rise - 2 Chingiz does not fit these patterns –His tribe is often disloyal –Not a secondary founder of a decaying nomadic state –Not elected, until already master of the steppe

The Bases of Chingiz’s Power Personal followers (nökod) –Distrust of relatives –Requires daring military feats The army –Cuts across tribal lines –Personal guard –An artificial tribe 1206: a critical juncture

War with China 1211: massive raids in North China Failure of the raids Adoption of Chinese military technology Policy of conquest

The Dar al-Islam Khwarazam-shah (‘Ala’ al-Din Muhammad II) Weakness of the shah’s position –Army (composed of Qipchaq Turks) unreliable –Poor relations with Persians –Poor relations with the Sunni ulema The Caliphate, dominant in Iraq Saljuq Turks

The Turn West Conquest of Kara-Khitai, 1218 Conquest of Transoxiana and Khurasan, 1219 Mongol policies –Systematic massacre: Herat, Nishapur, etc. –Goal punishment, not conquest Russia and the battle of the Kalka, 1223

The Turn West Conquest of Kara-Khitai, 1218 Conquest of Transoxiana and Khurasan, 1219 Mongol policies –Systematic massacre: Heart, Nishapur, etc. –Goal punishment, not conquest Russia and the battle of the Kalka, 1223

From Raids to Conquest Conquest of Russia, Push into central Europe The White, or “Golden” Horde Iran and Mesopotamia –Hülegü –Baghdad 1258 –Damascus, 1260 China, 1279