1. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
The Mongols
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

2. A Quick Background… Nomadic
Competition for Natural Resources leads to conflict & conquest - Central Asia lacked rain for agriculture
Genghis Khan chosen leader
Greatest Opportunity was trade – horses!

3. THE KHANS Genghis Khan (1206-1227) Ögedei Khan (1229-1241)
Güyük Khan ( )
Möngke Khan ( ) (Hulagu)
Kublai Khan ( )

4. THE GOOD (accomplishments & contributions)
Military Strategy & Innovation – Cavalry, Horse Archers, surprise attacks, sieges - Genghis first needed to disband tribal loyalties
Religious Tolerance (converted to all faiths in region except Hinduism)
Common Legal Code
Utilized skills of conquered peoples – artisans, soldiers

5. THE GOOD, cont…
Golden Horde was the only group to successfully conquer Russia(good?)
Created largest contiguous land empire in history
TRADE – source of diffusion – goods, ideas & people - under Mongol rule it was less risky- the Pax Mongolica

6. THE BAD – (failures & struggles)
Constant infighting for power after death of GK– “Khan”
Genghis never setup centralized rule, Kublai struggled with it (Yuan Dynasty)
Kublai failed to conquer Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia & Japan
Inability to control China w/o considerable force
Overspending

7. THE BAD, cont… THE PLAGUE!!! Overextension – loss of control in Persia
Struggle between nomadic lifestyle and need to settle (centralized gov’t)

8. THE UGLY – Rapid expansion following unification Surrender or Die
Looting & Destruction of Cities
Massacres (1.6 Million in 1 Afghan city, as many as 18.4 Million total killed)
Use of organized tactical terror
All exemplified by the Ilkhanate’s conquering of Middle East (Persia)

9. THE UGLY, cont…
Lots of Babies - as many as .5% of the Earths current male population can trace genetic lineage back to Genghis (500 wives & concubines)
Plague catapults – biological warfare?
Cannibalism?
Genghis’ funeral parade of death?

10. Mongol Empire Wrap-Up

11. Impact of the Mongols
The Mongols dominated the 13th century but in general, the distinctive Mongol culture had split upon ethnic lines.
One important overall impact of the Mongol conquests was at first the disruption, and then the encouragement and taxation of the long-distance trade routes of Eurasia. After the initial shock of Mongol attacks, a Pax Mongolica (Mongol Peace) was established that created a similar order that the Romans had in their heyday.
Another important impact of the Mongol unification was the transmission over trade routes of one of the most destructive pandemics in world history, known in Europe as the Black Death.

12. Short Answer Question
“Avoid grudging and murmuring against the fact that you were born to live in labor and pain and for most part of your time in the sweat of your face” Sir Edmund Dudley 1504, The Tree of Commonwealth