1. Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration
Chapter 17

2. Document a Day
What can this picture teach us about the Mongols?

3. The Mongol Empire Nomadic economy and society Nomadic herders
organized into clans with related languages
Nomads and their animals; few settlements
Migration
Trade (doesn’t produce)
Egalitarian but Patriarchy
Typically laid low in the foot hills of the Siberian forest.
Herding, hunting, and practicing archery…

4. The Mongol Empire Chinggis Khan 1162, Temujin
Born with a blood clot in his hand
Father poisoned
Mongol War Machine
Trained to fight, hunt, ride, and kill (could hit at target 350 yds)
Unity = conquest over rebellion
Tumens: 10,000 men a unit
Messengers, Spies, and Mapmakers
Executions and Generosity

5. The Empire was just getting started!
The Mongol Empire
Start of Mongol Empire
Chinggis Khan unified tribes through Civil War, won  because…
Meritocracy
Promoted Lower Classes of Conquered People into his tribe
Killed their leaders
Chinggis Khan ("universal ruler") unified Mongol rule, 1206
By 1227 owned all of China, Persia, Russia
Conquered more land in 25 years than Rome did in 400 years
11 million square miles
The Empire was just getting started!

6. The Mongol Empire Division of the Mongol empires Yuan Dynasty (China)
The Mongol empires after Chinggis Khan
Division of the Mongol empires
Yuan Dynasty (China)
Kublai Khan
Ilkhanate (Persia)
Chagatan Khnate (Central Asia)
Golden Horde Russia
16 million descendants of Chinggis Khan
Who does this remind you of?
Large Empire divided after their death due to no political unity.

7. Mongol Empire Military Campaigns successful Speed, archery, and horses
Adaptable
Siege Warfare
Gunpowder
Ships
Intimidation and Brutality

8. Mongol Accomplishments
The Mongols reinvigorated cross-Eurasian trade
Silk Road
Valued Trade
The Mongols increased communication
Yam System – food, shelter, and spare horses
Passports
Cuisine Spread
Rice: Persia
Noodles: Italy
Relocated people who were useful
Artist, Musicians, Administrators
Tolerant of Different Religions
Shamanist : nature spirits

9. Mongols Weakness Brutal Conquerors: Empire didn’t last long
“The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.” - Chinggis Khan
Brutal Conquerors:
Destroyed entire cities
Empire didn’t last long
Replaced in China after 80 years
Blended into Persia (adapted agriculture)
No fascination with art or architecture
Mongols were always on the move
Responsible for the Black Death
Biological Warfare
Trade

10. Were the Mongols Good or Bad?
Promoted trade, diversity, and religious tolerance while conquering more land in 25 years than the Romans did in 400.
Promoted slaughter and destruction while deemphasizing art, architecture, and political unity
How you feel about the Mongols says a lot about you:
Do you value artistic output over religious diversity?
Is imperialism that doesn’t last better or worse than imperialism that does?
Are only certain types of warfare inherently wrong?