The Mongols Lots and lots of Mongolian Problems
The Early Mongolians Began as nomadic horsemen on Mongolian Steppe – Primarily herders of sheep and yaks – Very good with shooting bows from horseback Mongols split between different nobles and warlords
Expansion of the Mongol Empire
Genghis (Chinggis) Khan (1162? – 1227) Born Temujin Father killed when he was 9 Started bringing tribes together to re-capture his wife Borte – Had to deal with other nobles and uncles 1206 crowned as Khan of the Mongol nation
The Conquests of Genghis Khan 1209 – Genghis attacks Xi Xia in Northwest China (Easy Victory over Buddhist society) 1214 – Genghis attacks Jin in Northeast China (Easy Victory, ends with sacking of Zhongdu) 1218 – Khwarizm (Persians) kill Mongol envoy
The Conquests of Genghis Khan – Genghis chases Persian king across Central, and western Asia (Conquering and killing) – Central Asia, Northern India, Southern Russia to empire 1226 – Xi Xia rebel, hold up in city of Ningxia (flooded out and erased from earth) – Genghis dies in 1227 (possibly by Tangut princess)
The Empire of Genghis Khan (1227)
Genghis Khan’s Legacy Religious Tolerance – Allowed conquered people to retain their own religion Writing – 1204 commissioned development of written language Trade and Crafts – Supported trade and artisans Legal Code – “Jasagh” a moral code that dictated acceptable pastoral life Split empire between sons when he died
Ögedei Khan (1229 – 1241) Third son of Genghis Khan from first wife – Conquered Persia – Conquered Jin Empire (Kaifeng) – With help of Song, who then betrayed Mongols (killed envoy) – Conquered Caucuses – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia – Conquest of Korea – (started when Mongol envoy killed)
Ögedei Khan (1229 – 1241) Europe – Mongols conquered Russia, pushing on to Austria when Ögedei died – Attacked Song – Song killed envoy 1241 – Conquered Northwest India
Golden Horde Mongols under the Command of Batu grew to control most of modern day Russia Forced Rus to act as tributary states
Kublai Khan ( ) 1279 – Finally conquered remainder of Song Empire – Established capital in Khanbaliq where he ruled Korea, China, and Tibet 1279 and 1281 tried to invade Japan Vietnam 1277, 1283, 1287 – Conquest of Burma
Mongol Empire Extent