1. Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration
The Mongol Empires
Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration

2. The Rise of the Mongols

3. Eurasia on the eve of the Mongol invasions, c. 1200 CE.

4. Discipline, loyalty, and skilled horsemanship
led to the conquest of a vast empire.

5. Nomadic Economy and Society
Rainfall in central Asia too little to support large-scale agriculture
Grazing animals thrive, central Asians turn to animal herding
Food
Clothing
Shelter (yurts)
Migratory patterns to follow pastureland
Small-scale farming, rudimentary artisanry

6. The Steppes are grasslands in Central Asia.

7. Nomads in Turkmenistan

8. Chinggis Khan (1167-1227) and the Making of the Mongol Empire
Temüjin, b. 1167
Father prominent warrior, poisoned c. 1177, forced into poverty
Mastered steppe diplomacy, elimination of enemies
Brought all Mongol tribes into one confederation
1206 proclaimed Chinggis Khan: “Universal Ruler”

9. Genghis Khan
Originally called Temujin. He led his clan to unify the others into a literal military juggernaut that swept across the Asian continent and reached the fringes of Europe and the Holy Roman Empire.
c. 1162–August18, 1227

10. Mongol Arms
Mongol population only 1 million (less than 1% of Chinese population)
Army c ,000
Strengths:
Cavalry
Short bows
Rewarded enemies who surrender,
cruel to enemies who fight

11. Mongol Conquests Conquest of China by 1220
Conquest of Afghanistan, Persia
emissaries murdered, following year Chinggis Khan destroys ruler
Ravaged lands to prevent future rebellions
Large-scale, long-term devastation

12. Mongol Invasions Vietnam Korea Japan
Attempted in late 13th century, but driven out
Guerilla warfare
Korea
Seized northern part of country and assimilated into Yuan
Japan
In 1266, invaded with army of over 30,000
Bad weather and difficult conditions forced retreat
Again in 1281, with army of nearly 150,000
Held for 2 months, then destroyed by massive typhoon

13. The Mongol Empires after Chinggis Khan

16. Khubilai Khan (r. 1264-1294) Grandson of Chinggis Khan Rule of China
Ruthless warrior, but religiously tolerant
Hosted Marco Polo
Established Yuan dynasty (to 1368)
Unsuccessful forays into Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Java
Two attempted invasions of Japan (1274, 1281) turned back by typhoons (kamikaze: “divine winds”)

17. Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan or Khubilai Khan or "the last of the great Khans", was a Mongol military leader. He was Khan of the Mongol Empire as well as the founder and the first Emperor of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty.

18. The Golden Horde Conquest of Russia, 1237-1241
Established tributary relationship to 15th century
Rule over Crimea to late 18th century
Raids into Poland, Hungary, Germany

19. The Ilkhanate of Persia
Abbasid empire toppled
Baghdad sacked, 1258
200,000 massacred
Expansion into Syria checked by Egyptian forces

20. Mongol Rule in China Strove to maintain strict separation from Chinese
Intermarriage forbidden
Chinese forbidden to study Mongol language
Imported administrators from other areas (esp. Arabs, Persians)
Yet tolerated religious freedoms

21. The Mongols and Western Integration
Experience with long-distance trade
Protection of traveling merchants - Safe Trade
Volume of trade across central Asia increases
Diplomatic missions protected
Missionary activity increases
Mongol resettlement policies

22. Decline of the Mongol Empire in Persia
Overspending, poor tax returns from overburdened peasantry
Ilkhan attempts to replace precious metal currency with paper in 1290s
Failure, forced to rescind
Factional fighting
Last Ilkhan dies without heir in 1335, Mongol rule collapses

23. Decline of the Yuan Dynasty in China
Mongols spend bullion that supported paper currency
Public loses confidence in paper money, prices rise
From 1320s, major power struggles
Bubonic plague spreads s
1368 Mongols flee peasant rebellion