1. The Mongols Homeland

2. Carmen Sandiego in The Gobi Desert, Mongolia

3. That’s One Mighty Big Empire Largest empire created by one single person "The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters" -GENGHIS KHAN

4. Pre-Empire Characteristics Nomadic (pastoralism) Tribal (therefore lots of war) Largely illiterate (because nomads don’t do job specialization!) Economic system = herding flocks, raiding booty along the edges of powerful civilizations like China Social System = clan & family importance; constant low-level fighting over pasture, water, slaves, resources, etc.

5. Holy Empire, Batman! 1206-1227 – Genghis Khan conquers a huge empire Unifies the Mongols themselves by breaking down kinship ties (comparable to Muhammad’s use of Islam to unify all Arabs). Like the Arabs, he then distracts Mongols from in-fighting by conquering others: Empire = China to Syria and Russia to Korea capital at Karakorum Began a period of stability known as the “Pax Mongolica” The original empire broke up in 1260 but didn’t completely dissolve…

6. The Breakup

7. After Genghis Khan’s Death Divided into 4 main segments ruled by parts of the Khan’s family and lasting into the 1400s: –Great Khan (Yuan Dynasty of China) –Khanate of Chaghadai (Central Asia & trade routes) –Golden Horde (Russia, Northern Eurasia) –Khanate of Persia (eastern portions of the former Abbasid Caliphate)

8. Results of the Pax Mongolica Pax Mongolica = The Mongol Peace; time of stability and peace caused by all of Eurasia basically being under the rule of a single entity Facilitated contact between various parts of enormous land area from Mediterranean to Pacific. Promoted interaction between peoples of many different ethnicities, religions, & cultures. Enabled exchange & spread of ideas, goods, technologies, & disease. The Bad: The Mongols caused destruction & subjugation Dislike of the Mongols made the people under their rule feel more unified