1. The Mongols & Genghis Khan
Global History

2. What is missing from these landscapes?
Origins of the Mongols
What is missing from these landscapes?
Geography
Steppes  grasslands that are not easily cultivated
Extreme Temperature Range
Winters could reach -57ºF
Summer could reach 96ºF

3. Origins of the Mongols

4. Origins of the Mongols Social Organization
Nomadic Pastoralists herded domesticated animals
Clans  group of people from a common ancestor
Mongols could not marry within the same clan
Mongols had no written language or agriculture
If this is the case, then technically the Mongols don’t meet the criteria of a what?
Mongols lived in yurts

5. Origins of the Mongols
Mongols would carry their possessions in these yurts as they wandered in search of pastures and resources

6. Recap Questions Describe the geography of Mongolia.
How was Mongol society organized?
What type of existence did Mongols live?

7. Read this quote attributed to the Great Khan
Read this quote attributed to the Great Khan. What do we know about him based on this quote?
Genghis Khan
“Man’s greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his horse, use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt and support…”

8. Genghis Khan Early Influences
Assassination of father by a tribe called the Tartars via poison
Harsh conditions of Central Asian Steppes
Constant tribal warfare
Hardened Genghis and made him tough
Mother’s arrow story  inspired Genghis to unite Mongols

9. Genghis Khan Conquests Merkit 1182 revenge for kidnapping of wife
Tartar 1202 revenge for father’s murder
Slaughtered every male taller than a cart axle
Jin Dynasty 1215 heard of rich state and wanted to control it
Under Genghis Khan the empire reaches Caspian Sea

10. Genghis Khan’s Conquests

11. Mongol Army Excellent horseman
Developed a shorter stirrup which allowed a warrior to stand, turn, and shoot arrows in any direction while riding
Since food was scarce  warriors drank blood of horse to sustain himself
Silk under armor  prevented deep arrowhead wounds

12. Mongol Army Military Tricks Weapons Army could travel 70 miles a day
Dummy army
False retreats  additional forces attack by surprise
Weapons
Fold-away catapult
Siege towers
Gun-powder charges
Army could travel 70 miles a day

13. Genghis Khan’s Legacy

14. Genghis Khan’s Legacy Unites Mongol people
Organized vast empire into 4 regions called Khanates
Perhaps the two most important contribution were:
Isolation of Russia
Cuts off Russia from advancements of Western Europe during the Renaissance
Created the largest contiguous land empire ever

15. Death
Genghis Khan dies in 1227 C.E., but his death is shrouded in uncertainty
Thrown from horses?
Pneumonia?
Died from wounds by a Tangut princess in self defense from rape?
Burial site is unknown
Territory divided among sons
Ogedai is elected universal khan

16. 3…2…1 3 Mongol military tactics
Identify:
3 Mongol military tactics
2 ways in which the Mongol Landscape was harsh
1 group that Genghis khan conquered