1. Barbarians or Men of the People and Trade Facilitators?
The Mongols
Barbarians or Men of the People and Trade Facilitators?

2. The Rise of the Mongols
Temujin --> Chenghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]
United the Mongols in 1162, Died in 1227
from the steppes of Asia. Built the World’s Largest land Empire
Created his new capital at Karakorum
The Nomadic advantage over sedentary societies is that nomads were highly mobile, very effective horsemen, and employed the element of surprise as a battle tactic. Siege warfare was also common.

3. Genghis Khan Genghis Khan Mongol Policies
Unified Mongol tribes in 1206
Mongol Policies
Borrowed written script from the Uighur Turks
Created uniform legal code
Reorganized the military
Broke up tribal affiliations
Officials chosen based on talent

4. Mongolian Steppes
The wide open steppes allowed for these various tribes to meet in the summer when their animals could graze. Under Chenggis Khan, these disparate tribes united into a great fighting force.

5. Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”
One of the nomadic advantages is being highly mobile. Yurts could be taken apart quickly and were fairly easy to transport.

6. Wagon-pulled “gers” made Moving Easier
Carts were created that allowed Mongols to travel quickly without having to take their Yurts apart

7. Karakorum
The Capital of the Mongol Empire was situated on the Steppes of Asia, along the silk road.

8. Mongol Invasions
From Karakorum, Genghis Kahn expanded his empire

9. Mongol Warriors
Mongol warriors were quick, well trained, and rode their horses as though they were one with them.

10. Mongol Archer
Archer could hit a moving target riding at full gallop.

11. Mongol Warfare The Advantages of the Bow and the Horse Move swiftly
Ride standing up because of stirrups
Could attack with bow and arrow from afar
Faked retreat
Tied sacks to saddles to add numbers

12. The MONGOLS Build Their Empire
Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:
If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity.
If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children.
If you do not have children, we will take your wife.
If you do not have a wife, we will take your head.
Used cruelty as a weapon --> some areas never recovered from Mongol destruction!

13. Horses- the key to Mongol Success

14. The Mongol Empire Mongol rule was generally tolerant
Religious toleration
Administrators drawn from Islamic and Chinese worlds
Intellectuals taken from conquered kingdoms
Trade and cultural exchange flourished
Pax Mongolica
Protect merchants

15. The Other Side of the Mongols
Although the Mongols have certainly earned their barbaric reputation, the Mongols also patronized artisans.
The Mongols often offered artisans special privileges. For example, after invading Samarkand, Ghengis Kahn ordered all artisans spared
Artisans also did not have to pay Corvée taxes

16. Gold Saddle Arch – Mongols, 13c

17. Gold Saddle, Front View – Mongols, 13c

18. Silk Screen painting of a Mongol Noble, late 13c

19. Robe of a Mongol Nobleman, early 14c
Silk was highly prized by Mongol noblemen.

20. Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

21. Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

22. Trade Routes Under the Mongols

23. Mongols: Trade Facilitators?
The Pax Mongolica
Mongols: Trade Facilitators?

24. Increase in Trade during Mongol Rule

25. People traveled as well as goods
Marco Polo
A Venetian merchant Traveled through Yuan China:
“Black Stones” [coal]
Gunpowder
Noodles

26. Marco Polo’s Travels
Marco Polo was certainly not the only European to travel to the Mongol Court. An equally famous account is from William of Rubruck, and there is even evidence that a Mongol envoy names Rabban Bar Sauma traveled from the Mongol areas to the “Court of the Franks”

27. The Black Plague spread from China to Europe in the mid-14c.
But so did Disease
The Black Plague spread from China to Europe in the mid-14c.
Bulbous
Septicemia Form: almost 100% mortality rate.

28. Russia Under the Mongols
Ruled by the Khanate of the Golden Horde
Russian princes forced pay tribute
Princes raise taxes on peasants
Peasants reduced to serfdom
Cut Russia off from Western Europe
Renaissance has minimal influence on Russia
Rise of Moscow
Moscow profited as tribute collector for Mongol overlords
Princes of Moscow turned against the Mongols in 1380

29. Kublai Khan Rules China
Mongol Identity
Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor
But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture
Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common
Separation
Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged
Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese
Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military
Limited Power
Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power
Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts
Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office

30. Taxes to Trade Peace Foreign Trade
Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes
Large part of taxes supported public-works projects
Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal
Improvements made shipping rice, other goods from southern China to northern China easier, more reliable
Mongols posted soldiers throughout China to keep peace
Feared rebellions, particularly in south where many Chinese remained loyal to Song dynasty
Peace
Foreign trade increased
Pax Mongolica made land travel safer for merchants
Sea trade improved; foreign merchants welcomed to China’s ports
Foreign Trade

31. End of the Yuan Dynasty Japan Attacks Kamikaze
The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats. All of his invasions into Southeast Asia failed, and Mongol armies suffered huge losses.
Kublai Khan had set sights on conquering Japan
Tried to invade Japan twice
Disastrous results each time
Japan
First attempt: 900 ships attacked Japan, storm destroyed fleet
Second attempt: Khan sent larger fleet, severe storm again wiped out fleet
Attacks
After two fleets destroyed by storms, Mongols never attempted Japanese invasion
Japanese called storms that saved them kamikaze, “divine wind”
Kamikaze

32. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)
Ming “Treasure Fleet”
Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide
China’s “Columbus?” 
Although these expeditions did not occur during the Mongol reign of China, Zheng He really represents a continuation of the Mongol policies until 1433 when Confucian scholars succeeded in convincing the emperor that such travels were not in China’s best interest.

33. Admiral Zheng He’s Voyages
First Voyage: [62 ships; 27,800 men].
Second Voyage: [Ho didn’t go on this trip].
Third Voyage: [48 ships; 30,000 men].
Fourth Voyage: [63 ships; 28,500 men].
Fifth Voyage:
Sixth Voyage:
Emperor Zhu Gaozhi cancelled future trips and ordered ship builders and sailors to stop work.
Seventh Voyage:
Emperor Zhu Zhanji resumed the voyages in 1430 to restore peaceful relations with Malacca & Siam
100 ships and 27,500 men; Cheng Ho died on the return trip.

34. Some Websites to Visit
Specific unit on the Mongol’s impact on Asia
Big History units. Mongols are discussed in Unit 5.
Offers a wealth of information on various aspects of the silkroads.