mongols establish empire - mr. roman · 2018. 12. 17. · descendants of genghis khan on the earth....

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Name:__________________________________________ Date:_____________

Aim:HowdidtheMongolsestablishtheirempire?

DoNow:Belowisaseriesofmapsinchronologicalorder.Whatareyourobservations?Whatquestionsdoyouhave?

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1. IfyouwereGenghisKhan,whatstrategieswouldyouusetounitetheMongolclans

andensuretheirunityandloyaltytoyou?

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In1200CE,theMongolslivedonthegrasslandsofCentralAsiainsmall,pastoral-nomadicclans.Theseclanswereledbyachieftainandoftenfoughtwitheachotheroverdisputesabouthonor,theiranimals,andrightstograzingandhuntingterritory.TothesouthofMongolia,China’brilliantSongdynastywasprospering,andtoitswest,theIslamiccaliphatesandsultanateswererenownedcentersofcultureandlearning.In1206,aMongolwhobecameknownasGenghisKhanunitedtheclansandbeganadecadeslongprocessofconquest.By1294theMongolempirebecamethelargestevercontiguouslandempireinworldhistory.

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2. Theabovepicturesdepictsomeofthegeographicalcharacteristicsthatshapedthe

ancientMongols’lives.Writedowngeographiccharacteristicsthatyouobserve,then

foreachanalyzehowitmayhavebenefittedorchallengedtheirlifestyle.

GeographicCharacteristic Benefits Challenges

3. WhatcanyougatherabouttheMongols’militarytacticsfromthepicturebelow?

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4. Basedontheaboveaccount,howdidtheMongols’wayoflifeandmilitarytactics

makethemsosuccessfulinconquest?

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5. Thegreenareaintheabovemapshowsthesteppe,alargeexpanseofrelativelyflatandunforestedgrasslandstretchingthroughoutEasternEuropeandAsia.Givenwhat

youknowabouttheMongols’wayoflife,howdidtheexistenceofthesteppeimpact

theirextremelyrapidandvastexpansionoftheMongolianempire?

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“Their arms are bows, iron maces, and in some instances, spears; but the first is the weapon at which they are the most expert, being accustomed, from children, to employ it in their sports. They wear defensive armor made from buffalo and hides of other beasts, dried by the fire, and thus rendered extremely hard and strong. They are brave in battle, almost to desperation, setting little value upon their lives, and exposing themselves without hesitation to all manner of danger. Their disposition is cruel. They are capable of supporting every kind of privation, and when there is a necessity for it, can live for a month on the milk of their mares, and upon such wild animals as they may chance to catch. Their horses are fed upon grass alone, and do not require barley or other grain. The men are trained to remain on horseback during two days and two nights, without dismounting…. No people on earth can surpass them in fortitude under difficulties, nor show greater patience under wants of every kind. They are most obedient to their chiefs, and are maintained at small expense.”

--Travels by Marco Polo (a European traveler). Written in 1298 based on his travels from 1274 to 1290.

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6. ThequotesintheaboveboxesdemonstratetheMongolrulingstyle.Comparethe

quotesintheleftboxtothequotesontherightbox.Whatdifferentkindsofruling

stylesdidtheMongolshave,andhowmighttheirrulingstyleshavehelpedthem

establishcontroloveranarea?

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“Ifyoudonotpayhomage,wewilltakeyourprosperity.Ifyoudonothaveprosperity,Wewilltakeyourchildren.Ifyoudonothavechildren,Wewilltakeyourwife.Ifyoudonothaveawife,Wewilltakeyourhead.” --GenghisKhan’staxlaws“ThatsummerGenghisKhanpitchedhiscampontheSnowymountain.HesentsoldiersoutagainsttheTangqutpeoplewhohadrebelledagainsthim…Thewholetribewascompletelywipedout.Thenheshowedfavortohisgenerals,saying:“Takewhatyouwant,untilyoucancarrynomore…Maketheirfinesonsfollowbehindyou,holdingyourfalcons.Bringuptheirdaughterstoarrangeyourwives’skirts.

--Anonymouseyewitnessprimarysourceaccount

“Temujin(GhenghisKhan’soriginalname)hadareputationofbeinggeneroustothosewhojoinedhis,givingthemfursandhorsesandallowingthemtokeeptheirreligion.Manywhoweresufferingunderunkindleadersswitchedtheirallegiancetohimsaying,‘Temujindresseshispeopleinhisownclothes;hepermitsthemtoridehisownhorses.” --GenghisKhanbyMichelHoang“Ogedei(thesonofGenghisKhan)allowedhissublimethoughtstooverflowlavishlyintothemostjustandcharitableofgooddeeds,intotheeradicationofinjusticesandenmity,intothedevelopmentofcitiesanddistricts,aswellasintotheconstructionofvariousbuildings.Heneverneglectedanymeasuredesignedtostrengthentheframeworkofpeace,andtolaythefoundationofprosperity.

--HistoryoftheMongolsbyRashidal-Din,approximately1241.Al-DinwasaMongolofficial.

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Crash Course World History #17 “Wait for it… The Mongols!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szxPar0BcMo

Watch the above following 11-minute clip on the Mongols, filling out the worksheet below as you watch. John Green talks quickly, so it’s helpful to turn the subtitles on and be prepared to

rewind if necessary.

1. TheMongolswerenomads.Nomadsmigrateaccordingtoclimateconditionssothey

canfeedtheir____________________.

2. Nomadsdon’tgenerallyproducemanufacturedgoods,whichmeanstheyneedto

___________________,sotheyalmostalwayslivenearsettledpeople.

3. Pastoralnomadstendtobemore_________________________,especiallywhere

womenareconcerned.

4. GenghisorC____________________Khanwasbornaround1162withthename

_____________________toalowlyclanchief.

5. Heunitedthetribesbypromotingpeoplebasedonm________________,andby

bringingl_________________classesofconqueredpeopleintohisowntribe.

6. AfterGenghisdiedin1227,hissonO_________________Khanexpandedtheempire

evenmore.Genghis’grandson,MongkeKhan,capturedBaghdad,thecapitalofthe

A__________________Empire.Anothergrandson,K_________________Khan

conqueredChina’sSongDynastyin1279.

7. Historiansbelievetherearecurrentlyabout___________________milliondirect

descendantsofGenghisKhanontheearth.

8. AfterGenghis’death,theMongolempirewassplitintofourpiecescalled

K_______________,whichmeantitdidn’tstayunified.

9. GenghisKhan’sarmywasbuiltons_______________anda________________.

10. TheMongolsadoptedg_____________________,probablyintroducingitto

Europeans.

11. TheMongolsreinvigoratedcross-EurasianS____________R___________trade,which

theyvaluedbecausetheycouldtaxit,sotheymadetravelverysafe.

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12. TheMongolsincreasedcommunicationthroughEurasiabydevelopingthey_______

system,usingroadsidereststopsorrelaystationsaswellasakindofpassport.

13. TheMongolswerenotskilledatrecord-keepingorotherwriting-basedkindsofskills,

sotheyforciblyr__________________administrators,whowerefrequentlyMuslim,

tootherpartsoftheempire.

14. TheMongolswereunprecedentedly___________________ofdifferentreligionsand

didnotexpectconqueredpeopletoadopttheirownshamanisticreligion.

15. GenghisKhanwasseriouslybrutal,believing,“Thegreatest______________________

istovanquishyourenemies,tochasethembeforeyou,torobthemoftheirwealth,to

seethosedeartothembathedintears,toclasptoyourbosomtheirwivesand

daughters.”

16. TheMongolempiredidn’tlastlong–eitherlosingitsMongolidentitythroughcultural

integration,orthroughbeingreplaced.Within_________yearsthey’dleftChinaand

beenreplacedbythe___________Dynasty.

17. Becausetheyopenedupcross-Eurasiantrade,theMongolswereprobablyresponsible

forthespreadofthe_______________________________.

ChooseoneofJohnGreen’sconcludingquestionsbelow,andanswerwithyourwell-

supportedopinion.

- TheMongolspromotedreligiousdiversitybutalsocaredverylittleforpromoting

societalartisticoutput.Whichismorevaluable?

- TheMongolsusedaparticularlybrutalformofimperialism,butitonlylasteda

shorttime.Isthisbetterorworsethanotherconquerors’formsofmilder

imperialismthatmaintainedcontroloverareasformanycenturies?

- ArecertainkindsofwarfarethattheMongolsparticipatedininherentlywrong,or

dotheiraccomplishmentsoutweightheirmethods?

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Aim:HowdidtheMongolsestablishtheirempire?

TEACHERGUIDE&ANSWERKEY

DoNow:Belowisaseriesofmapsinchronologicalorder.Whatareyourobservations?Whatquestionsdoyouhave?Studentanswerswillvary.Possiblestudentquestionsmayinclude:Whatdotheredpartsmean?Doesthisshowacountryconqueringterritory/expanding?Whodidthis?Howdidtheygrowsomuchsofast?Whydidtheymostlyexpandhorizontallyandnotreallyvertically?Whathappenedafter1279?

1. IfyouwereGenghisKhan,whatstrategieswouldyouusetounitetheMongolclans

andensuretheirunityandloyaltytoyou?

Studentanswerswillvary.Commonstudentanswersinclude:aggressivemilitarytacticstogainpowerbyforce,forminganalliancewithanotherpowerfulclanthroughmarriage,givingrewardstothosewhoareloyaltoyou,etc.LetstudentsknowthatGenghisusedmostoftheirideas.Somebackgroundtosharewiththem:Whenhewasateenager(stillcalled“Temujin”atthatpoint,thenamehewasgivenatbirth)herosetoleadershipwithinhisowntribe.HefatherwaspoisonedandTemujinsoonkilledhisolderbrotherinanargumentoverpower.Abitlater,Temujin’sfirstwifeandhismotherwerekidnappedbyarivalclan.Whenhedaringlyrescuedhiswife,Temujinshowedhisstrengthandbecamehisclan’sleader.Establishingloyaltywasveryimportanttohim,whichheenforcedbybecoming“bloodbrothers”withimportantalliesbycuttingtheirfingersandmixingtheirbloodwitheachother.Heledhisclantomanyvictoriesoverrivalclansandbrutallykilledorimpoverishedtheirleaders.HealsoincreasedhispopularitythroughoutalltheMongolsbyallowinglowerstatuspeopletojoinhisclanandalsogivingtalentedpeoplefromotherclanshighpositionsinhisown,thusappointingbymeritocracyratherthanbyhigh-statusbirth.HewantedtoestablishunityasaMongolpeopleandnotjustacollectionofseparateclans,sowhennewclansjoinedhim,heseparateditsmembersandhadthemjoinwithotherpartsofhisgrowingorganization.In1206theMongolsheldacouncilcalleda“kurultai”andchoseTemujintobetheruleroveralltheclansandhewasdeclared“Genghis(orChinggis)Khan.”InMongolian,“khan”means“ruler”andtheclosesttranslationof“Genghis”seemstobe“oceanic”or“widespread.”Thetitle“GenghisKhan”mayhavemeant,then,“UniversalRuler.”

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2. Theabovepicturesdepictsomeofthegeographicalcharacteristicsthatshapedthe

ancientMongols’lives.Writedowngeographiccharacteristicsthatyouobserve,then

foreachanalyzehowitmayhavebenefittedorchallengedtheirlifestyle.GeographicCharacteristic Benefits Challenges

- Mountainous/highabovesealevel- Notdirectlynearwater/coast- Flatgrasslandsanddry,aridplains(steppe)- Lotsofgrazinganimalsandwildhorses

-Protectionfromenemies/invaders-adapteasilytoanomadiclifestyle;buildcollapsible,easilytransportablehomestofollowgrazinganimals-dependonhorsesandanimalherdsforsubsistence-becameextremelyskilledriders

-isolationfromotherculturesandinnovationsexceptforbrieftradinginteractions-dependenceonnomadicpastoralistherdinglifestylemeansMongolscan’teasilythriveoutsidethestepperegion-noadvancedbuildings/cities

3. WhatcanyougatherabouttheMongols’militarytacticsfromthepicturebelow?

ThehorsewasintegraltoMongolmilitarystrategy.Theyfoughtonhorsebackusingspearsandswordsandwerealsoveryskilledatarchery–abletorideandshootbackwardatthesametime.Theywouldbeabletocoverlargedistancesveryquicklyonhorsebackandattackfromadistancewithabowandarrow,butalsomowdownenemiesonfootbytramplingthemwiththeirhorseorattackingwithaswordfromhorseback.Theywouldhavebeenterrifyingmilitaryopponents.

4. Basedontheaboveaccount,howdidtheMongols’wayoflifeandmilitarytactics

makethemsosuccessfulinconquest?

TheMongols’wayoflifemadethemequallysuccessfulinmilitaryconquest.Livingindifficult,harshconditionsmadethemtoughwithexcellentendurance.Theyhadanorganizedclanstructurewithstrongloyaltyingrained,translatingwelltowarfare.Livingalifeonhorsebackhuntingandherdingtheiranimalsmadethemextremelyskilledatridingandshootingarrowsfromhorseback.Theyusedtheiranimalsforeverything:forfood,forshelter,evenformakingakindofarmorfromtheirhides.YoumaywanttosharewithstudentsafamousoldMongolproverb:“Ifthehorsedies,Idie;ifitlives,Isurvive”anddiscussitsmeaning.Besuretoalsodiscusswhatkindsofbiases/exaggerationsmaybeseeninMarcoPolo’swordsandwhyhemighthavethem.(StudentsmayalsofindfascinatingthemanystoriesofMongolsoldiersbeingsentonlong,gallopingjourneysacrossthesteppe.Theyweresaidtoridefordays,onlystoppingtosleepbriefly.Theytraveledverylightlyandiftheybecamethirstyorhungryalongtheway,thestoriessaytheywouldnickopenaveinintheirhorseanddrinkfromthebloodthatspurtedout.Thebloodwasrichinnutrientsandironandwouldsatisfytheirthirstandhungeralongtheway.Literalfastfood!)

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5. Thegreenareaintheabovemapshowsthesteppe,alargeexpanseofrelativelyflatandunforestedgrasslandstretchingthroughoutEasternEuropeandAsia.Givenwhat

youknowabouttheMongols’wayoflife,howdidtheexistenceofthesteppeimpact

theirextremelyrapidandvastexpansionoftheMongolianempire?

Alongthesteppe,therewasabsolutelynoonewhocouldstoptheMongols’rapidexpansionoftheirempire.Theirwayoflifeandmilitarytechniqueswereideallysuitedtoitsconditions.ItisinterestingthatthelocationofthesteppeinEurasiacorrelatesalmostexactlytothelocationoftheexpandingMongolianempire.Anywheretheirhorsesandherdswereabletoeasilytravel,theycouldconquerandmaintaingovernancethroughrelativelysophisticatedcommunicationsystems.Itwasmuchharderforthemtoconquerandmaintainruleinareassouthofthesteppe,wherethegeographywasnotconducivetotheMongolwayoflife–mountainousbarriers,marshy/swampy/jungle-likeconditions,ordeserts.TheMongolsdidlearnhowtoadaptquicklytodifferentenvironments,however.StudentsmaybeinterestedinthestoryoftheirattemptedinvasionofJapanaftertakingcontrolofSongdynastyChina.Forthefirsttimeever,thehorse-ridingMongolsbuiltafleetofshipstocrosstheseaintoJapan.Theytriedtwice,in1274and1281.Bothtimes,astrongtyphoonaroseandthestormsankmostoftheMongols’ships,causingtheinvasionstofailandtheJapanesetoremainfreeofMongolrule.TheJapanesecalledthesetyphoonsthatsavedthem“kamikaze”or“divinewinds.”Later,inWWII,theword“kamikaze”andallitshistoricalsignificancefortheJapanesewasusedastheformaltermforthesuicideattacksbyJapanesepilotsusingtheirplanesasbombstocrashintoAlliedships.

6. ThequotesintheaboveboxesdemonstratetheMongolrulingstyle.Comparethe

quotesintheleftboxtothequotesontherightbox.Whatdifferentkindsofruling

stylesdidtheMongolshave,andhowmighttheirrulingstyleshavehelpedthem

establishcontroloveranarea?

Thequotesintheleftboxshowarulingstylebasedonbrutality.PeoplewouldhavecompliedwiththeMongolsandobeyedoutoffear.ThereareaccountsofwholecitiessurrenderinginadvancewhentheyheardtheMongolswerecoming–theirreputationofterrorwasaneffectiverulingmechanism.Thequotesintherightbox,however,showtheMongolleadersasbeinggenerousandquicktorewardloyalty.Oncetheyhadconqueredanarea,theyseemednottobetyrannical,butaimedatmakinglifebetterfortheregularperson.This“badcop/goodcop”routineworkingintandemwasprobablyquiteeffectiveindisplacingrulersandalsowinningtheallegianceandcooperationofthelowerclassestheyruled.Besuretoalsodiscusstheimplicationsofpointofviewineachsourceexcerptexamined.Aretheyalltrustworthy?Howmighttheybebiased?Thefirstisataxlawonrecord,butit’sverypossibleitwasanexaggerationanddeclaredmoretoenforcecooperationthanmeanttobeenforcedexactly.Thesecondisaneyewitnessaccountostensiblyfromthetimeperiod,whichmakesitmoretrustworthy,butitisanonymousandthepersonwhowroteitdowncouldhavemadeituporhadmotivesimpactingthenegativeportrayaloftheMongolsitgives.Thethirdisaquotefromareputablesecondarysourceacademicbook,butnotaprimarysource–althoughitdoescontainaprimarysourcequote.Thefourthisadocumentedprimarysourcequotefrom

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thetimeperiodandalsofromanArabicMuslimwhoselandwasconqueredbytheMongols.Hestillwritespositivelyofthem,despitethisfact,whichseemstogiveitmorelegitimacy.However,hewasgivenapositionofauthorityundertheMongols,sohemayhaveabiasedreasontothinkfavorablyofthem.CRASHCOURSEWORKSHEETANSWERS:

1. TheMongolswerenomads.Nomadsmigrateaccordingtoclimateconditionssothey

canfeedtheir____flocks________________.

2. Nomadsdon’tgenerallyproducemanufacturedgoods,whichmeanstheyneedto

_______trade____________,sotheyalmostalwayslivenearsettledpeople.

3. Pastoralnomadstendtobemore_______egalitarian__________________,especially

wherewomenareconcerned.

4. GenghisorChinggis____________________Khanwasbornaround1162withthe

name__Temujin___________________toalowlyclanchief.

5. Heunitedthetribesbypromotingpeoplebasedonmerit________________,andby

bringinglower_________________classesofconqueredpeopleintohisowntribe.

6. AfterGenghisdiedin1227,hissonOgedei_________________Khanexpandedthe

empireevenmore.Genghis’grandson,MongkeKhan,capturedBaghdad,thecapital

oftheAbbasid__________________Empire.Anothergrandson,

Kublai_________________KhanconqueredChina’sSongDynastyin1279.

7. Historiansbelievetherearecurrentlyabout_____sixteen____________milliondirect

descendantsofGenghisKhanontheearth.(Becauseherapedsomanywomen!!)

8. AfterGenghis’death,theMongolempirewassplitintofourpiecescalled

Khanates_______________,whichmeantitdidn’tstayunified.

9. GenghisKhan’sarmywasbuiltonspeed_______________andarchery____________.

10. TheMongolsadoptedgunpowder_____________________,probablyintroducingitto

Europeans.

11. TheMongolsreinvigoratedcross-EurasianSilk____________Road___________trade,

whichtheyvaluedbecausetheycouldtaxit,sotheymadetravelverysafe.

12. TheMongolsincreasedcommunicationthroughEurasiabydevelopingtheyam______

system,usingroadsidereststopsorrelaystationsaswellasakindofpassport.

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13. TheMongolswerenotskilledatrecord-keepingorotherwriting-basedkindsofskills,

sotheyforciblyrelocated__________________administrators,whowerefrequently

Muslim,tootherpartsoftheempire.

14. TheMongolswereunprecedentedly_____tolerant___________ofdifferentreligions

anddidnotexpectconqueredpeopletoadopttheirownshamanisticreligion.

15. GenghisKhanwasseriouslybrutal,believing,“Thegreatest____happiness__________

istovanquishyourenemies,tochasethembeforeyou,torobthemoftheirwealth,to

seethosedeartothembathedintears,toclasptoyourbosomtheirwivesand

daughters.”

16. TheMongolempiredidn’tlastlong–eitherlosingitsMongolidentitythroughcultural

integration,orthroughbeingreplaced.Within___80______yearsthey’dleftChina

andbeenreplacedbythe___Ming________Dynasty.

17. Becausetheyopenedupcross-Eurasiantrade,theMongolswereprobablyresponsible

forthespreadofthe___Black________________Death__________.

ChooseoneofJohnGreen’sconcludingquestionsbelow,andanswerwithyourwell-

supportedopinion.

- TheMongolspromotedreligiousdiversitybutalsocaredverylittleforpromoting

societalartisticoutput.Whichismorevaluable?

- TheMongolsusedaparticularlybrutalformofimperialism,butitonlylasteda

shorttime.Isthisbetterorworsethanotherconquerors’formsofmilder

imperialismthatmaintainedcontroloverareasformanycenturies?

- ArecertainkindsofwarfarethattheMongolsparticipatedininherentlywrong,or

dotheiraccomplishmentsoutweightheirmethods?

Studentanswerswillvary,butshouldbewell-written,well-supported,anddemonstrateunderstandingoftheMongols’lifestyle,culture,conquest,impact,etc.