The Mongols: The Terror of

Civilization or the Maker of New Worlds?

What are you expected to Know?

-How do they live/survive?-Who was Chinggis Khan?-Why was their military so successful?-What happened to the Empire after Chinggis’ death?-Who was Kublai Khan?-How did Kublai Khan impact China?-What is the Pax Mongolica?-Why did the Mongols finally Decline?-Who was Timur/Tamerlane?

Migration and Expansion Nomads live off their animals and follow their

migratory patterns. HERDERS/PASTORALISTSAlso survived on hunting, horsemenEvery male 15-70 had to serve militaryGreatest strength in mobilityLimited agriculture—geographical limitations. Animals: Sheep, Goat, Yaks, OxenLive in Yurts –mobile homesSome convert to Buddhism, Islam Often in conflict with Tatars

Turkish, central/west Asia, Russia

Rise of Mongols

Competition for resources kept them under constant threat of violence Pastureland began to disappear b/c drop in temperature

Forced to trade or ‘expand’ for resourcesTemujin (Genghis Khan) united Mongols

(Chinggis) Genghis Khan

Organized Military Resources vs. Tatars Mongol tribes against the Tatars 1206 CE: Khuriltai (an assembly of the Mongol nobility)

Give title “Chinngis Khan” Khan of All Between the Oceans

Borrowed Turk script; 1st written works, use to write laws Reforms of the religion, laws and politics of the newly

united people. Greater Mongolia included the Mongolian Plateau and

the Gobi Desert.

He organized his people into units of ten, a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand, and the head of a unit of ten thousand would have a strong personal relationship with Chinggis himself.

That kind of loyalty was to be extremely important in Chinggis's rise to power and in his ability to maintain authority over all the various segments of his domain.

Organization

Warfare--- Inventive

Genghis Khan: “Submit and live, Resist and die”

Horses were fast and flexible Could ride for days

Use biological warfare (plague ridden bodies)Fake out- pretend to withdrawHit-and-run raids- hit town etc then run and

outride sedentary cultures, hideCompound bow: skilled at shooting it while

riding (range 350 ft, opponents only 250 ft)

Mongol Invasions before 1259

Mongol Empire 1227-1405

Legacy of Genghis Khan Religious Tolerance1st Mongolian Script (writing)Support for trade and crafts (Pax Mongolica)Legal Code specific to the Mongols' pastoral-

nomadic way of life According to his wishes, upon death his

territory was divided between his sons and grandson (4 main divisions)

Mongol States after 1259

1

2

3

4

Division of the Empire: Area I

China – Kublai Khan Khublai Khan: Chinggis Khan’s

grandson: consolidated Mongol rule in China

Destroyed Song Dynasty in 1279

Area #2: The Golden Horde

Russia & Europe - Batu Overran Russia in 1237 Moved into Eastern Europe: Poland,

Hungary, and East Germany Ruled Russia but kept large number local

rulers intactMostly, people were Christian but Mongols

were Muslim Encouraged conversion but not force

Controlled area until 15th century

Central Asia: Ruled by Chaghadai

Area #3 Central Asia This area will be in constant conflict with

area #1-China under Kublai Khan

Persia: Ruled by Hulegu Area # 4

West Asia; Arab AreaKhubilai Khan's brother Hulegu, destroyed the

Abbasid Dynasty by occupying the city of Baghdad Employed local bureaucratsConverted to IslamNot support agriculture, but support tradeLocal rulers allowed to continue as long as

Delivered tax revenue Maintained order

Prevented further invasions by Mamluks in Egypt (Saladin)

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan Very cosmopolitan- allow many artisans etc

visit Attacked Song dynasty in China 1260s Still a few holdouts: Confucian bureaucrats

and Chinese generals Established Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)

Overall, held Chinese in contempt Chinese-style dynasty Fixed and regular tax payment system Strong, centralized government Foreigners, not Chinese, in civil service Chinese subjected to different laws Four-caste system

YUAN CHINA

Rule of China

Mongols kept nomadic way of life and turned vast tracks of land they captured into pastures

Amnesty to Chinese who fought against Mongols Tax System; Local AdministrationSupported/Accepted Islam, and Christianity…

promoted Buddhism. Condemned Daoism, Confucianism

Unsuccessful in his conquest of Vietnam, Burma, and Japan.

YUAN CHINA

Divisions

Outlawed intermarriage between Mongols and Chinese

Forbade Chinese from learning Mongol language

Brought foreigners into govern, lack of confidence in Chinese…disdain for Confucianism.

Noted tolerance for traditions and religions.

YUAN CHINA

Trade and Commerce

Promote Silk Roads; Guarantee Liberty and Social Standing for Merchants Countered Chinese ideas of Traders

Postal system: Connect Beijing to Vienna w/ communication system of horse relays

Unified system of paper money; conversion system

Diplomatic missions with Europe

YUAN CHINA

Gender Roles

Property Rights; Control HouseholdFreedom to move around townRefuse to accept footbindingIndividual accounts of women going to war,

choosing their own mates, riding in huntsChabi- wife of Kubilai Khan

Important advisor Desired to accept Chinese culture without being

overwhelmed by it Spread Buddhism in high circles of government Convinced husband not to treat Chinese harshly

"Pax Mongolica"

Peak of Mongolian rule when large areas of Europe and Asia under their rule

Allowed relatively safe trade and contacts between different cultures

Eliminated tariffs, taxes on imports/exports

Decline of the Mongols Successful conquers but poor administratorsExcessive spending Leadership strugglesCollapse of Yuan Dynasty- by peasant

Yuanxhang which created Ming dynasty14thc. Plague greatly weakened NomadsDepopulation/labor shortage Resurgence of Chinese By 1350, most of territory reconquered by other

armies; by early 1400s, most dissipated into local cultures