1. THEIR CONQUESTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE WORLD
THE MONGOLS
THEIR CONQUESTS
AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE WORLD

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What was the impact of the Mongolian Empire on the world?

3. THE MONGOLIAN EMPIRE WHERE WAS IT?

4. Who were the Mongols?
The Mongols were among the numerous nomadic tribes who lived in Central Asia

5. Steppes are dry, windy grasslands; harsh climates and extreme temperatures of the steppes were the main features of Mongolia’s geography
The Mongols lived in the Asian steppes, so Mongolia was a region where only the strong survived

6. Only one percent of Mongolia’s land was good for farming, so Mongols were pastoralists (shepherds and livestock farmers who herded animals)
As the summer herds thinned out during the winter, making milk and meat scarce, the only way for Mongols to survive was by raiding other neighboring clans and stealing their herds

7. The members of clans were related and descended from a common ancestor
Mongols lived in nomadic clans; they were often on the move, traveling on horseback, searching for better pasture lands for their herds
The members of clans were related and descended from a common ancestor
Because of the clans raiding each other’s herds, toughness and ability to fight were highly valued among the Mongols

8. It would take a strong leader to unite all of the warring Mongol clans together into one group
That strong leader would be a man named Temujin, who was born around 1162
When Temujin became undisputed leader of all Mongol tribes after a series of battles, he took the name “Genghis Khan”, which means “Universal Ruler”

9. Equally intelligent and vicious, Genghis Khan would lead the creation of the largest land empire in human history
From 1200 to 1206, Genghis united all of the Mongol clans under his rule

10. Genghis Khan built a powerful army out of the Mongols and began a 21 year long conquest of Asia and parts of Europe

11. Led by Genghis, the Mongols began taking new territory in 1207, first going after China
Genghis wanted control of the Silk Road, the valuable trade routes between Asia and Europe
The Mongols conquered the kingdom called Xia in northern China, then attacked the Jin Dynasty, bringing all of China under Genghis Khan’s control

12. After conquering China, Genghis took over most of Central Asia
Several characteristics lay behind Genghis Khan’s stunning success as a conqueror. First, he was a brilliant organizer. He assembled his Mongol warriors into a mighty fighting force (see below). Following the model of the Chinese military, Genghis grouped his warriors in armies of 10,000. These in turn were organized into 1,000-man brigades, 100-man companies, and 10-man squads. He put his most battle-proven and loyal men in command of these units. Second, Genghis was a gifted strategist. He used various tricks to confuse his enemy. Sometimes, a small Mongol cavalry unit would attack, then pretend to gallop away in flight. The enemy usually gave chase. Then the rest of the Mongol army would appear suddenly and slaughter the surprised enemy forces.
Finally, Genghis Khan used cruelty as a weapon. He believed in terrifying his
enemies into surrender. If a city refused to open its gates to him, he might kill
the entire population when he finally captured the place. The terror the Mongols
inspired spread ahead of their armies, which led many towns to surrender without
a fight. As one Arab historian wrote, “In the countries that have not yet been
overrun by them, everyone spends the night afraid that they may appear
there too.”
Future Mongol leaders after Genghis increased Mongol borders to its greatest extent, which was the largest land empire in history 12

13. As a result of their lifestyle and environment, the Mongols were natural horsemen and extremely tough and skilled warriors

14. In addition to being natural horsemen, the Mongols were adept at using bows and arrows while riding

15. Their speed on horseback, weapons, and fighting skill made the Mongols an unstoppable enemy

16. Groups of archers could rain arrows on the enemy from 300 yards away
The extremely strong and flexible compound bow was the super-weapon of its time
It could shoot arrows faster and more accurately than any bow before it; fired properly, it could pierce armor at 190 MPH
Groups of archers could rain arrows on the enemy from 300 yards away

17. Genghis assembled the Mongols into a very organized war machine
Genghis was a highly intelligent military commander
He would often trick enemies into attacking, using small forces to lure them into traps, where the rest of the Mongol army would appear and destroy them
Genghis assembled the Mongols into a very organized war machine

18. BUILDING AN EMPIRE
Several characteristics lay behind Genghis Khan’s stunning success as a conqueror. First, he was a brilliant organizer. He assembled his Mongol warriors into a mighty fighting force (see below). Following the model of the Chinese military, Genghis grouped his warriors in armies of 10,000. These in turn were organized into 1,000-man brigades, 100-man companies, and 10-man squads. He put his most battle-proven and loyal men in command of these units. Second, Genghis was a gifted strategist. He used various tricks to confuse his enemy. Sometimes, a small Mongol cavalry unit would attack, then pretend to gallop away in flight. The enemy usually gave chase. Then the rest of the Mongol army would appear suddenly and slaughter the surprised enemy forces.
Finally, Genghis Khan used cruelty as a weapon. He believed in terrifying his
enemies into surrender. If a city refused to open its gates to him, he might kill
the entire population when he finally captured the place. The terror the Mongols
inspired spread ahead of their armies, which led many towns to surrender without
a fight. As one Arab historian wrote, “In the countries that have not yet been
overrun by them, everyone spends the night afraid that they may appear
there too.”
Another reason they were so deadly is that they adapted: from each group of people they conquered, the Mongols would pick up new tactics and weapons, such as Chinese siege weapons and gunpowder 18

19. Genghis Khan’s army quickly gained a reputation for extreme cruelty during battle
If an enemy refused to surrender, Genghis would order the death of the entire population , torturing and killing every soldier and civilian
One story of Mongol cruelty: after the Mongols took a Persian city that resisted, the governor of the city was brought alive to Genghis; he ordered molten gold to be poured down the governor’s throat

20. As brilliant a strategist as Genghis Khan was, his greatest weapon was the spread of terror
As the Mongols’ fearsome reputation spread, many towns and villages would surrender without a fight
As a 13th Century historian wrote of the Mongols: “They are inhuman, more like monsters than men.”

21. IN GENGHIS’ OWN WORDS…
“The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to take his wives and daughters.”

22. While merciless in battle, the Mongols were surprisingly tolerant of their conquered subjects in times of peace
The Mongols never forced their way of life on conquered people; instead they often adopted cultures of those they ruled over

23. In the West, some Mongols converted to Islam
While ferocious in war,
the Mongols were quite tolerant in peace. They rarely imposed their beliefs or way
of life on those they conquered. Over time, some Mongol rulers even adopted
aspects of the culture of the people they ruled. The Ilkhans and the Golden Horde,
for example, became Muslims. Growing cultural differences among the khanates
contributed to the eventual splitting up of the empire.
In the West, some Mongols converted to Islam
In the East, Mongols embraced Chinese culture 23

24. As long as the conquered people paid tribute to their Mongol rulers, they would live
Genghis controlled his warriors’ ferocity: rape and plunder without his permission was strictly forbidden
Genghis also shared his power; he gave his finest warriors leadership positions throughout the Mongolian Empire

25. Interaction between Mongols and conquered Muslims mostly happened in Persia and Western China
After initial brutality, the Mongols showed much religious toleration towards the Muslims
Muslim merchants were invited to China to promote trade between the Mongols’ empire and the Middle East

26. The Muslim pilgrim Ibn Battuta, who traveled 73,000 miles in his lifetime, remarked on the toleration for Muslims
Muslims living in the Mongols’ empire had a separate sphere in each city and were treated with respect

27. Interactions between Mongols and conquered Christians mostly happened in Russia
The Mongols killed many Christians, but not because of their religion; the reason was because of Christian resistance to Mongol rule

28. DEATH OF GENGHIS KHAN
After Genghis Khan’s death from an illness in 1227, the Mongols (under other Khans) continued to expand the Mongolian Empire

29. THE MONGOLS CONTINUE TO CONQUER
Korea
Russia
Central Asia
China
the Islamic Empire

32. After the death of Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire was divided into four major sections called khanates, each ruled by a son or grandson of Genghis
But the most important khanate was the one located in China: “The Khanate of the Great Khan”

33. In 1279, Genghis’ grandson Kublai Khan became the ruler of “The Khanate of the Great Khan” and as such, the first foreign leader to reside within China as he ruled it

34. Kublai Khan began a new era in China called the Yuan Dynasty
Kublai enjoyed Chinese culture so much that he moved the Mongolian capital to China
However, he excluded the Chinese from serving in leadership positions; he relied on non-Chinese people to serve in his government 34

35. Kublai Khan proved to be a good emperor for China
Under Kublai, foreign trade with China increased; he built roads and extended the Grand Canal to improve transportation

36. PAX MONGOLICA: “MONGOL PEACE”
From the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, the rule of the Mongols was a time of peace and stability
This era of stability was called “Pax Mongolica”, which means “Mongol Peace”
Because of the safety of Pax Mongolica, there was enormous trade between Asia and Europe
Safe passage was granted for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries

37. From the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, the Mongols imposed stability and law and order across much of Eurasia. This period is sometimes called the Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace. The Mongols guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries from one end of the empire to another Trade between Europe and Asia had never been more active. Ideas and inventions
traveled along with the trade goods. Many Chinese innovations, such as gunpowder,
reached Europe during this period.
Other things spread along with the goods and the ideas. Some historians speculate
that the epidemic of bubonic plague that devastated Europe during the 1300s was
first spread by the Mongols. (See Chapter 14.) The disease might have traveled
along trade routes or have been passed to others by infected Mongol troops.
For a brief period of history, the nomadic Mongols were the lords of city-based
civilizations across Asia, including China. As you will read in Section 3, China
continued to thrive under Mongol rule.
Chinese technologies like gunpowder and the magnetic compass reached Europe; this would later help the Europeans when they began exploring and conquering other parts of the world

38. On the negative side, diseases like the Plague (Black Death) also made their way from Asia to Europe along those same trade routes and killed millions of people

39. MARCO POLO’S TRAVELS

40. Marco was very impressed by the riches on display in China
In 1275, a European merchant named Marco Polo visited Kublai Khan’s court
Marco was very impressed by the riches on display in China

41. Kublai Khan was impressed with Marco, so the emperor employed him in the Yuan government for 17 years

42. When Marco Polo returned to Italy in 1292, he wrote a book about his travels; his stories of China increased European demand for Asian products

43. Twice, Kublai Khan tried to invade Japan by sea; both invasions failed
During the second invasion, a massive storm swept away the Mongols’ ships

44. The Japanese word for “divine wind” is “kamikaze”
For many years, the Japanese would speak of the “divine wind” that saved Japan from Mongol invasion
These failed invasions cost the Mongols a lot of men and money; this began the decline of the Mongol Empire
The Japanese word for “divine wind” is “kamikaze”

45. In 1330, the Mongols lost control of Persia
By the time of Kublai Khan’s death in 1294, the entire Mongol Empire was growing weak
In 1368, the Chinese overthrew the Mongols and started the Ming Dynasty
In 1330, the Mongols lost control of Persia

46. In 1370, the Mongols lost control of Central Asia
In 1480, under Czar Ivan III, Russia gained independence from Mongol rule and started the Romanov Dynasty
In 1370, the Mongols lost control of Central Asia

47. The Mongols’ empire was gradually reduced until all they had left was the territory they originally had in the early 1200s

48. How did the Mongols create the largest land empire in human history?
THE MONGOLS’ IMPACT
How did the Mongols create the largest land empire in human history?
Genghis Khan’s military genius
Organized, fast-moving, tough warriors
Using new tactics and weapons from conquered people
Spreading terror to make enemies surrender without a fight
Fear, along with tolerant rule, kept the conquered people from rebelling against the Mongols for a long time

49. How did the Mongols’ power decline?
THE MONGOLS’ IMPACT
How did the Mongols’ power decline?
Leaders after Genghis and Kublai were not as capable
Attempted invasions of Japan and Southeast Asia failed; they cost a lot of money and soldiers
The conquered people would use the Mongols’ own fighting tactics against them and eventually overthrow them

50. What were the effects of Mongol rule?
THE MONGOLS’ IMPACT
What were the effects of Mongol rule?
Millions of people lost their lives to the ravages of the Mongol army
However, the Mongols brought about a time of stability and peace as they ruled (Pax Mongolica)
Marco Polo’s time with the Mongols increased European interest in Asia
This was good for trade, so there was more exchange of goods between Europe and Asia than ever before
Europe gained new technology (gunpowder)
Europe also may have gotten the Plague from the Mongols, which killed millions of people