Chapter 17: Turks & Mongols Periodization: Regional & Transregional Interactions 600 CE – 1450 CE

Turks & Mongols Both groups were nomads Roots go back to hunter-gatherers This chapter represents interrelations between settled and nomadic peoples.

Nomadic Society Domesticated animals, but not farmers –Lack of rain in central Asia doesn’t support large-scale agriculture Migratory patterns to follow pastureland Turks lived in Yurts Rudimentary artisan achievements Reliance on trade for manufactured goods

Nomads in Turkmenistan

Nomadic Society Two social classes: nobles & commoners Governance basically clan-based Charismatic individuals become nobles, occasionally assert authority Unusually fluid status for nobility –Hereditary, but could be lost through incompetence –Advancement for meritorious non-nobles

Nomadic Religion Early religion revolved around shamans –Supernatural powers –Communicated w/gods & nature spirits By sixth century adopted Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Islam, Manichaeism Conversion to Islam in tenth century due to Abbasid influence Turks responsible for spread of Islam into Anatolia and India.

Military Organization Large confederations under a khan Authority extended through tribal elders Exceptionally strong cavalries –Mobility –Speed

Turkish Empires and Their Neighbors, ca C.E.

Saljuq Turks Eighth to tenth centuries, Turkish peoples on border of Abbasid empire Eventually came to dominate Abbasid caliphs 1055, Saljuq leader Tughril Beg recognized as sultan 1071, Saljuq Turks defeat Byzantine army at Manzikert, take emperor captive Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople in 1453

Ghaznavid Turks Mahmud of Ghazni, Afghanistan, invades northern India At first for plunder, later to rule Northern India completely dominated by thirteenth century

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

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

Who were the Mongols? From the steppes of eastern central Asia Nomadic peoples United under the leadership of Temujin a.k.a Chinggis Khan

Steppe Inner Eurasia Outer Eurasia

From Temujin to “Universal Ruler” Born 1167, Orphaned at 10 “Mastered the art of steppe diplomacy” –Personal courage, loyalty United Mongol tribes into a single confederation 1206 made Chinggis Khan Chinese depiction of Chinggis Khan

Political & Military Organization Formed military units that broke down tribal loyalties Awesome archers Large, quickly moving armies Effectively used psychological warfare

The wisdom of Chinggis Khan: “Man’s greatest joy is in victory: to conquer one’s enemies, to pursue them, to deprive them of their possessions, to make their beloved weep, to ride on their horses, and to embrace their wives and daughters…”

Mongol Rule Nomadic invasions and migrations tested the military and administrative strengths of settled societies. When Mongols collapsed a government, they often adapted the existing administration structures to their purposes.

Chronology of the Mongol Empire Reign of Chinggis Khan Conquest of northern China Conquest of Persia Conquest of Russia 1258Capture of Baghdad Conquest of southern China

The Mongol Empire at its height – 1320s

Strong Equestrians and Archers The Mongols were oriented around extreme mobility. They carried their houses with them, drank their own horse's blood to stay alive, and could travel up to 62 miles per day. They had an elaborate priority- mail-system which allowed orders to be transmitted rapidly across Eurasia. Mongol archers were very deadly and accurate –Their arrows could kill enemies at 200 meters (656 feet)

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

China: the Yuan Dynasty Most famous ruler: Khubilai Khan Government administered by Mongols and non- Chinese advisors Allowed religious freedom but dismantled Confucian exam system Prohibited Chinese from learning the Mongol language. Khubilai Khan

Painting by Liu Guandao of Khubilai Khan on a hunting expedition, 1280

Other Mongol Rule Golden Horde –Didn’t occupy Russia –hegemony in Russia until mid-fifteenth century Persian Ilkhanate –Massacred over 200,000 –poor administrators –Over time assimilated into the culture Except in their own homeland, they were out of power in about 90 years

Societal Advances While Mongol warfare was awesome, let’s not get completely carried away with that. They were responsible for increased interaction among peoples of different societies, which resulted in Eurasian lands being more directly connected than before.

“Pax Mongolia?” 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

How did Japan resist Mongol invasion? The Mongols attempted to invade Japan twice [1274 and 1281] Twice they were repelled by typhoons “Kamikaze” or “divine wind”

Inspiration for WWII “kamikaze”

Tamerlane the Conqueror Collapse of Mongol states left power vacuum Chinggis Khan was model weakened the Golden Horde, sacked Delhi, and launched campaigns in southwest Asia and Anatolia By 1370 extended authority throughout Chaghatai khanate

Tamerlane’s Empire, ca C.E.