The Mongols Mongols on the attack
Nomads of the Steppe Geography: steppe divided into West, East –West steppe: Central Asia to Eastern Europe –East steppe: Mongolia Very little rain, extreme temps (-57 to 96 F) Short hardy grass covered steppe
Nomadic Life Pastoralists who herded domesticated animals Depended on herds for food, clothing, housing Didn’t wander aimlessly; instead, they followed a seasonal pattern to find pastures Divided into clans, or family based groups Tribes (groups of clans) gathered to trade, elect king (little power)
Nomadic Life Practically lived on horseback –Arguably most skilled riders in historyskilled riders –Owned 6-10 horses each –Could ride 100+ miles at a time –Drank horse’s blood; raw meat trick Steppe horses –Short legged, large heads (not ponies!) –Roamed across steppe –4 million horses to about 1 million Mongols
Nomads vs. Settled Peoples Why conflict? –Nomads needed manufactured goods –Nomads tempted to raid towns, merchants –Strong empires resisted by building large armies, walls
Rise of Genghis Khan 1200: a leader, Temujin, unites Mongol tribes 1206: named Genghis Khan, meaning “universal leader” Invaded Northern China and destroyed kingdom, devastating population Moved W against Muslims in India –Emissary story –Slaughter of Afghani, Pakistani, Persian cities until Caliphate surrendered
Genghis Khan Brilliant organizer –Regularized troop formations (10000 / 1000 / 100 / 10) Brilliant strategist –Use of missile troops and shock troops –Tricks, strategies of hunt –Fake retreat, Cambrian circle Used skills of captives to benefit army –Ex - siege weapons Used fear, terror to conquer Est. largest geographic empire in history
Weapons of the Mongols Recurve Bow –Bow made of layers of wood, sinew (glue)Bow –Short, but powerful pull (horseback) –Different arrows for different purposes Armor –Laminated (leather + glue) –Silk shirt underneath Horses –Stirrups –Mobility unprecedented
Mongol Empire Genghis died in 1227; his sons took over empire, continued W Europe “saved” in 1241 (son died; election) Division of Empire (click here)click here a)Khanate of Great Khan (son) b)Khanate of Chagadai (son) c)Ilkhanate (son) d)Khanate of Golden Horde (son)
Mongol Rule Yuan Dynasty ( ) –Mongols had little in common with conquered Chinese (kept lang, customs) –Government of Mongols Capital moved to Beijing Mongols, foreigners put over Chinese Kept Chinese customs of dynastic name, merit bureaucracy –“Pax Mongolica” – safe travel throughout empire –Silk Road reopened (silk, porcelain) AKA “Great Khanate”
Mongol Rule: Marco Polo Venetian merchant who traveled w/ dad to China Arrived in 1275 Became part of court of Kublai Khan; served for 17 years Wrote detailed book, “The Million” about journey (1 st exp. to China) Returned to Europe in 1295
End of Mongol Rule in China Fall of Yuan Dynasty –Kublai Khan died 1294 –Breakdown of Mongol war machine Mongols got lazy, soft Very corrupt rulers –Chinese hated Mongols (barbarians) –Famine broke out (floods, disease) –Rebellion broke out, pushed Mongols out –Chinese established the Ming Dynasty First Ming Emperor, Hongwu