The Mongols : The Terror of Civilization or the Maker of New Worlds?

1. The Mongols: The Terror of Civilization or the Maker of New Worlds?

2. 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?

3. Migration and Expansion • Nomads live off their animals and follow their migratory patterns. HERDERS/PASTORALISTS • Also survived on hunting, horsemen • Every male 15-70 had to serve military • Greatest strength in mobility • Limited agriculture—geographical limitations. • Animals: Sheep, Goat, Yaks, Oxen • Live in Yurts –mobile homes • Some convert to Buddhism, Islam • Often in conflict with Tatars • Turkish, central/west Asia, Russia

4. 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 resources • Temujin (Genghis Khan) united Mongols

5. (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.

6. Organization 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.

7. 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 withdraw • Hit-and-run raids- hit town etc then run and outride sedentary cultures, hide • Compound bow: skilled at shooting it while riding (range 350 ft, opponents only 250 ft)

8. Mongol Invasions before 1259

9. Mongol Empire 1227-1405

10. Legacy of Genghis Khan • Religious Tolerance • 1st 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)

11. Mongol States after 1259 2 1 3 4

12. Division of the Empire: Area IChina – Kublai Khan • Khublai Khan: Chinggis Khan’s grandson: consolidated Mongol rule in China • Destroyed Song Dynasty in 1279

13. Area #2: The Golden HordeRussia & Europe - Batu • Overran Russia in 1237 • Moved into Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, and East Germany • Ruled Russia but kept large number local rulers intact • Mostly, people were Christian but Mongols were Muslim • Encouraged conversion but not force • Controlled area until 15th century

14. Central Asia This area will be in constant conflict with area #1-China under Kublai Khan Central Asia: Ruled by Chaghadai Area #3

15. Persia: Ruled by Hulegu Area # 4 • West Asia; Arab Area • Khubilai Khan's brother Hulegu, destroyed the Abbasid Dynasty by occupying the city of Baghdad • Employed local bureaucrats • Converted to Islam • Not support agriculture, but support trade • Local rulers allowed to continue as long as • Delivered tax revenue • Maintained order • Prevented further invasions by Mamluks in Egypt (Saladin)

16. YUAN CHINA 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

17. 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 Administration • Supported/Accepted Islam, and Christianity…promoted Buddhism. • Condemned Daoism, Confucianism • Unsuccessful in his conquest of Vietnam, Burma, and Japan.

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Gender Roles • Property Rights; Control Household • Freedom to move around town • Refuse to accept footbinding • Individual accounts of women going to war, choosing their own mates, riding in hunts • Chabi- 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

21. "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

22. Decline of the Mongols • Successful conquers but poor administrators • Excessive spending • Leadership struggles • Collapse of Yuan Dynasty- by peasant Yuanxhang which created Ming dynasty • 14thc. Plague greatly weakened Nomads • Depopulation/labor shortage • Resurgence of Chinese • By 1350, most of territory reconquered by other armies; by early 1400s, most dissipated into local cultures