1. The Mongol and Ming Empires

2. Mongols  Nomadic people who lived in the steppes of Central Asia  Under Genghis Khan, cast empire stretched from the Pacific ocean to Eastern Europe

3. Genghis Khan  “World Emperor”  Original Name: Temujin  Strict Military discipline  Highly trained armies  Best horsemen in the world  Known for fierceness:  Massacred entire cities, but also could be very generous  Conquered Asian steppe lands with ease

4. Mongolian Conquests  Used cannons and other new weapons to attack walled cities. Strategies spread to Europe.  Mongols dominated much of Asia.

5. Mongol Peace  1200-1300s: Pax Mongolica  Mongols controlled Silk Road  What was the Silk Road?  Cultural Exchange increased  Gunpowder and windmills spread to Europe

6. China under Mongol Rule  Kublai Khan, Ghengis’ grandson, overthrew the Song Empire  Wanted to prevent being absorbed into Chinese tradition:  Mongols could serve in the military  Highest government jobs for Mongols  Named his rule the Yuan Dynasty

7. Marco Polo  Italian Merchant who visited China during the Yuan Dynasty  Left a vivid account of the wealth and splendor of China.  His report sparked European interests in riches of Asia.

8. Ming Dynasty  Yuan Dynasty declined after Kublai Khan’s death  Most Chinese saw the Mongols as barbarians  Ming rulers sought to reassert greatness in China after years of foreign rule

9. Ming reasserting Greatness  Revived Confucian learning  Repaired canal system  Developed new technologies  Revival of arts and literature

10. Zheng He  First Chinese voyager  Goal was to promote trade  Explored Southeast Asia and India  Voyages showed local rulers power of the Chinese

11. Video: You can’t but Genghis Khan  What does the video tell you about the Mongols?