MONGOL EMPIRE

The MONGOLS Nomadic people from the rugged steppe region north of China, now called Mongolia Lived by herding & lived in felt tents called “gers” or “yurts”

MONGOLS Nomadic lifestyle encouraged skills of battle excelled at “3 manly games”: riding, wrestling, archery

NOTICE THE CONTRAST: MONGOLIAN CULTURE CHINESE CULTURE “3 Manly Games”: Riding, wrestling, archery “3 Perfections”: Painting, Poetry & Calligraphy

Mongol Weapons & innovations Warriors on horseback with bows & arrows Catapults Giant crossbows mounted on stands Terror: When the Mongols conquered a city or country, they often slaughtered the males taller than a cart axle, and enslaved the women

Mongol Cavalry At its height, the Mongol cavalry was about 100,000 horsemen Could travel very fast, up to 100 miles per day. Each Mongol had 3-4 horses, and would switch horses to prevent wearing one out. Cavalry innovations included special saddles & iron stirrups that enabled them to stand up & fire arrows, while riding at top speed. They could even turn around and fire backwards Often used tactics such as: surrounding their enemy like hunters surrounding game; pretending to retreat, then turning on the enemy

More fun facts about Mongols They wore silk shirts under their armor. If they were hit by an arrow, the arrow would push the silk in. Then the silk could be used to pull the arrow out.

Genghis Khan- Temujin Born about 1162-son of a minor chief Name-Temujin

TEMUJIN When he was 9, his father was killed by the Tatars, and he and his mother were left in poverty Later he was kidnapped by a rival clan, but he escaped. When he was a young man, his wife Borte was kidnapped, and he rescued her.

GENGHIS KHAN United the Mongol tribes Took the title Genghis Khan, which means “universal ruler” & believed he was destined to rule the world

Over the next 21 years, he conquered the Jin Empire & much of Central Asia & slaughtered thousands of people Created a huge empire with capital at Karakoram.

Died in 1227, & his sons and grandsons continued conquering & expanding the huge Mongol Empire

The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters, to ride their horses. "       -GENGHIS KHAN

The conquests were first led by Genghis Khan and carried on by his sons & grandsons. He established a huge empire-the original capital in Mongolia was Karakoram G. K. conquered the Jin Empire, much of central Asia and Persia. Ogedei Khan was his son, and the next Great Khan. Grandsons: Kublai Khan conquered the rest of China, & founded a new dynasty in China called the Yuan Batu led the Mongols called the Golden Horde & conquered Russia, Poland, Hungary, slaughtering and taking slaves Hulagu led another group of Mongols, invaded the Middle East, captured Baghdad &virtually destroyed it. Largest contiguous (connected) land empire in World History, including most of Asia and part of Eastern Europe.

Largest contiguous (connected) land empire in World History, including most of Asia and part of Eastern Europe.

DIVISION INTO 4 PARTS Mongol Empire was divided into 4 regions, called Khanates: Yuan China – also called Khanate of the Great Khan Khanate of the Golden Horde -Russia Chagatai Khanate-Central Asia Il-Khanate – Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan

Conquest of China 1279: Mongols under Kublai Khan completed the conquest of China (which had been begun by his grandfather, G.K.) Kublai Khan ruled China, but was also recognized as “Great Khan”, head of the whole empire. Kublai gave his Chinese dynasty a “Chinese-sounding” name: Yuan dynasty Made “Khanbalik”, which today is Beijing, his Chinese capital (had a palace in Mongolia & in China, at Khanbalik).

China under Mongols-Yuan Dynasty Mongols, under the name “Yuan Dynasty”, ruled China from 1279-1368 Population of China, which had dropped to 60 million during the period of war, began to grow again.

Accomplishments of the Mongols in Yuan Dynasty Extended the Grand Canal to Khanbalik (Beijing) & built a paved highway beside it. This supplied the capital with food from the fertile south. Established a courier, or messenger system; messenger stations about every 25 miles; relay system carried messages within China, & between China & India & Persia; Mongols controlled the whole length of the Silk Road across Asia, and kept it safe. This period is sometimes called the “Pax Mongolia”.

Mongols kept the Silk Road Safe Trade along the Silk Road greatly increased. Ideas traveled with the goods. The bubonic plague also traveled west along the Silk Road!

Negative effects of Mongol Rule Heavy taxes Discrimination by Mongols against the Chinese in their own land.

CONTACTS BETWEEN CHINA & EUROPE During the period of Mongol rule in China, both France (under Louis IX) and the Pope sent ambassadors to the Chinese court.

Marco Polo Marco Polo was a man who came from Italy to China when he was 17 with his father and uncle. Stayed in China for 17 years serving as a special agent for Kublai Khan When he returned to Italy, he wrote his account in “The Travels of Marco Polo”. Many people did not believe his account.

Discrimination by the Mongols against the Chinese in Yuan China The Mongols gave important government jobs only to Mongols or to other non-Chinese. Yuan government treated the Mongols and the Chinese differently under the law; For the same offense, Chinese were given harsher punishments. Kept Mongols & Chinese segregated & prevented intermarriage between Mongols & Chinese

Yuan dynasty after the death of Kublai Khan 1294, Mongol rule began to weaken The Huang River flooded, destroying crops; there was a famine, rebellions , Bubonic Plague sprang up. The Mongols had lost the “Mandate of Heaven”! 1368, the Yuan dynasty was overthrown & the Ming dynasty established

Xia Shang Zhou Qin Han Sui Tang Song Mongols/Yuan Ming Ching Warring States Qin Han Sui Tang Song Mongols/Yuan Ming Ching

Overall effects of Mongol Rule Increased trade between Asia & Europe because the Mongols controlled & protected the Silk Road Increased exchange of ideas. Chinese inventions such as gunpowder reached Europe at this time. The Bubonic Plague also reached Europe, traveling from Mongolia along the Silk Road.

Attempt to invade Japan Kublai tried twice to conquer Japan, but was unsuccessful-1272 & 1281. Both times a typhoon helped blow the Mongols fleet away; typhoon called the Kamakazi (sacred wind).