1. Bell Ringer Ancient Chinese Martial Arts
Watch the following video and complete the questions.
Video from 6 minutes to 10:30 Minutes.
Have you ever taken any martial arts classes ?
Martial Arts have inspired hundreds of movies. Do you have a favorite movie that involves martial arts? If so, what is it?

2. Extra Information
The Martial Arts we recognize today as Kung Fu had their origins in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
During the following Qin ( BC) and Han (202BC - 220AD) Dynasties, wrestling, swordplay and spear skills became well developed and were popular among civilians and troops.
Following the Song Dynasty ( ), various schools, boxing styles, movement sets and weapon skills flourished.

3. China
The Mongols

4. Extra Information: Setting the Stage
While the Chinese prospered during the Song Dynasty, a great people far to the north were also gaining strength.
The Mongols of the Asian steppe lived their lives on the move.
They prided themselves on their skill on horseback, their discipline, their ruthlessness, and their courage in battle.
They also wanted the wealth and glory that came with conquering mighty empires.
This desire soon exploded into violent conflict that transformed Asia and Europe forever.

5. Extra Information: Nomads
The differing ways of life of nomadic and settled peoples resulted in constant interaction between them. Often, they engaged in peaceful trade.
The nomads exchanged horses, for basic items they lacked, such as grain, metal, cloth, and tea.
Nomads were accustomed to scarcity and hardship. They prided themselves on their toughness. However, they were tempted by the rich land and relative wealth of townspeople and took what they wanted by force.

6. Extra Information: Nomads
As a result, settled peoples lived in constant fear of raids.
Occasionally, a powerful nomadic group was able to conquer a whole empire and become its rulers.
Over generations, these nomadic rulers often became part of the civilization they conquered.

7. The Mongols Setting the Stage:
The Mongols were gaining strength in the north in Asia
They prided themselves on their skill on horseback, their discipline, and courage
Mongols were nomadic pastoralists: herded domesticated animals
Mongols traveled together in kinship groups called clans

8. Temujin

9. The Mongols The Rise of the Mongols
Temujin sought to unify the Mongols under his leadership around 1200
Slowly Temujin defeated his enemies (and friends) one by one
In 1206 he accepted the title of universal ruler of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan conquered much of Asia and had goal of invading China
By 1225 Central Asia was under Mongol control

10. Mongol Empire Under Genghis Khan

11. The Mongols Reasons for Genghis Khan’s successes:
He was a brilliant organizer
Was a gifted strategist
Used cruelty as a weapon

12. Extra Information: A Mighty Fighting Force - Strategies
Mongol soldiers were superb horsemen, having spent all their lives in the saddle.
Annual game round-ups gave young men the chance to practice skills and gave their leaders the opportunities to spot promising warriors.
When on the move, each soldier was accompanied by three extra horses. By changing mounts, soldiers could stay in the saddle for up to ten days and nights at a time.
A key to Mongol horsemanship was the stirrup, which was invented in the second century B.C.
Stirrups enabled a mounted warrior to stand, turn, and shoot arrows behind him.

14. The Mongols The Mongol Empire Genghis Khan died in 1227 of illness
His successors continued to conqueror territory eventually having the largest unified land empire in history
Successors divided region up into different territories called khanates.
Had territory from Kiev in the West to China in the East
Mongols destroyed villages, irrigation channels, and decimated populations

16. Mongol Empire at its Peak

17. The Mongols Rarely imposed their beliefs on conquered peoples
Even adopted some of the culture of those they ruled
Pax Mongolica: Mongol Peace- time of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire from mid 1200s to mid 1300s
Trade and inventions spread rapidly during Pax Mongolica due to safe travel

18. Extra Information: Khanates
After Genghis’s death, his sons and grandsons continued the campaign of conquest. Armies under their leadership drove south, east, and west out of inner Asia. They completed their conquest of northern China and invaded Korea.
They leveled the Russian city of Kiev and reached the banks of the Adriatic Sea. In the 1250’s, the Mongols halted their westward campaign and turned their attention to Persia.
By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge empire into four regions, or khanates.
These were the Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China), the Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia), the Ilkhanate (Persia), and the Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia). A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate.

19. Khanate Regions

20. Khanate Regions

21. Kublai Khan

22. The Mongols Kublai Khan Becomes Emperor
Grandson of Genghis Khan took title in 1260
Wanted to fulfill wish of grandfather: conquer all of China
Started the Yuan Dynasty which ruled from
China was united for first time in nearly 300 years
Kublai Khan’s control opened China up to more trade and foreign contact
Enjoyed living in luxury as Chinese emperor
Attempted to take over Japan but Japanese might and weather halted the invasion
Kublai Khan improved the Grand Canal and added 135 miles to it

23. Yuan Empire

24. The Mongols Mongol Rule in China
Mongols were hugely outnumbered in China- lived apart from one another
Chinese were not allowed to hold high government office however could serve at local levels
High public office went to Mongols or foreigners- felt foreigners could be trusted due to having no loyalties to the Mongols or Chinese
Mongol Peace extended trade
Traders wanted silk, porcelain, gunpowder, paper currency, and the compass

25. The Mongols Invited foreign merchants
Venetian trader Marco Polo came to Kublai Khan’s court around 1275
Worked for Kublai Khan because he learned many Asian languages
While imprisoned, Polo told his story which was later published as a book but most Europeans did not believe it

26. Extra Information: Marco Polo
The most famous European to visit China in these years was a young Venetian trader, Marco Polo.
He traveled by caravan on the Silk Roads with his father and uncle, arriving at Kublai Khan’s court.
Kublai Khan sent him to various Chinese cities on government missions.
Polo served the Great Khan for 17 years.
In 1292, the Polos left China and made the long journey back to Venice

27. The Mongols The End of Mongol Rule in China
Kublai Khan’s armies and navies suffered many humiliating defeats at a huge expense of lives and equipment towards the end of his reign
Heavy spending on wars, public works, and Yuan luxuries over burdened the treasury and angered the overtaxed citizens
Kublai Khan died in 1294 and his successors were inept at ruling the dynasty
In 1368 Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols
The Ming Dynasty would be established
With the fall of the Yuan came the disintegration of the Mongol empire in Asia
Japan was on the rise

28. Timeline

29. Constructive Response Question
Trace the development of Temujin and his empire including background information, motivations, and military tactics used.