Ch 18Nomadic Empires & Eurasion

Integration

BackgroundIncreasing role/influence of nomadic

culturesMany Turkish and Mongolian

campaigns

Turkish ExpansionMany Turkish groups, same languageTribal/clan organizationCame to dominate central Asia

Nomadic SocietyPastorialists due to arid climateUsed grazing animals to supply nearly

all needsBrisk trade w/settled societyCaravan trade

Social ClassesNobles and commonersNobles - acted as war leaders, not

administratorsFairly fluid society - nobility based

more on personal actions and attributes than hereditary status

ReligionAnimism/shamanismAlso tended to adopt religions of

settled society900’s - began to convert to Islam

Military OrganizationOrganized into confederations led by

khansAdvantage based on cavalry/archers900’s began to develop into imperial

states

Saljuk Turks became intertwined w/Abbasid

EmperiaTurkish sultans became the real rulers

b 1055Increasing interest in Asia MinorGained control by 1071 (except city of

Constantinople)

Ghaznavid TurksPushed into northern India - early 1000’sOrginally looters, est more permanent

interest and control over time1200’s - Delhi sultanate controlled N.

IndiaConstantly undermined by rajahsArmy allowed them to hold territory but

not to build on it