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The Mongols

The Mongols. AKA: “The Devil’s Horseman”. Who are the Mongols?. To their enemies- ugliest, dirtiest barbarians to ever live To themselves- noble people whose war-like nomadic way was superior to city dwellers. Felt contempt for the rich civilizations of India, China, and Persia

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The Mongols

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  1. The Mongols AKA: “The Devil’s Horseman”

  2. Who are the Mongols? • To their enemies- ugliest, dirtiest barbarians to ever live • To themselves- noble people whose war-like nomadic way was superior to city dwellers. Felt contempt for the rich civilizations of India, China, and Persia • To history- between 1200- 1350 conquered much of the Islamic Empire, destroying Baghdad. Sent armies into Russia and China. They ruled the largest unified empire in history!

  3. Mongols from the steppe • Homeland: vast grassland north of China’s Great Wall (land was bare except for grass with savage winds sweeping through often) • Supported herds of horses, cattle, yaks, and sheep • Most important weapon – bow and arrow (pulling the bow took over 100 lbs of force. And a Mongol could pull at full gallop and hit a target 200 feet away!) • Home to nomadic invaders • Tartars • Huns • Turks • Mongols

  4. Steppe Lifestyle • Pastoralists • Seasonal, nomadic herding • Horses • Diet – meat and milk *Mare’s milk was a staple • Clothing – wool and leather • Clan-based family units • Camped at night in circular tents • Relationships with Settled Societies • Trade relations • Raiding • Assimilation

  5. Genghis Khan • Khan= leader (for centuries, Mongols lived in loosely organized groups , each with it’s own Khan) • Background • Born in 1162? • Named Temujin (means “iron worker”) • Father was a clan leader – poisoned by rival clan • Raised in poverty  rose to clan leader • Killed Tatars = revenge • Made allies and fought battles to unite clans of the steppes • After one battle he is said to have killed everyone taller than a cart axel. Only the youngest children survived. They were brought up as his followers. • 1206 – became the Genghis Khan (“ruler between all the Oceans” , universal ruler)

  6. Conquests of Genghis Khan and the Mongols • Between 1206 and his death in 1227, Genghis Khan conquered most of Asia • 1211 AD– Jin Empire (in Northern China) • 1219-1225 AD– Central Asia (Khwarizm Empire) • Originally tried to set up a trade relationship • Sultan Mohammad of the Khwarizm Empire killed 1 ambassador and humiliated another • Genghis Khan led Mongol attack and destruction of this empire • 1227 AD • Conquered the Xia Xia Empire of Northern China • Died on the way to conquer Song China

  7. Mongol Strategies and Tactics • Decimal System of Organizing Units • Army = 10,000 • Brigade = 1,000 • Company = 100 • Squad = 10 • Training • Boy’s first toy – bow and arrows • Boys taught to hunt in groups military strategy • Tactics • Tricks – the Feigned Retreat • Heavily-armed and mobile cavalry (bow, sword, armor) • Psychological warfare

  8. The Mongol Empire • Continued Conquests by groups of Mongols led by Genghis Khan’s Sons and Grandsons (1227 – 1250s) • 1230s – 1250s – Northern China and Korea • 1240s – Russia • 1250s – Persia and the Middle East • 1260 – Empire Divided into 4 Parts = the 4 Khanates • Initially, they all worked “together” but later each Khan more independently

  9. The Four Great Khanates

  10. Kublai Khan • The conqueror of Sung China • Genghis’ grandson who was the Great Khan in the late 1200s • Unlike his ancestors, did not hate civilization. Loved lavish lifestyle • Conquered China in 1279 AD • Named his dynasty Yuan- ruled from the city Khanbalik (today it’s Beijing) • Tried to conquer Japan in 1274 and 1281 but failed • Kamikaze “divine wind” – Typhoon destroyed the Mongol fleet in 1281

  11. The Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1369 AD) • Changes to Chinese Government • Still an Emperor • A Mongol Khan , BUT lived and ruled like a Chinese Emperor • Still a Bureaucracy, but… • Mongols and Non-Chinese allies of Mongols at upper levels • Chinese bureaucrats at local level • Social Issues • Segregation – Mongols and Chinese kept separate • Chinese people placed at the bottom of the social class system • Trade • Silk Road restored • Grand Canal restored and extended • Foreign merchants and missionaries welcomed • Marco Polo – Venetian merchant who traveled to China and worked for Kublai Khan’s government from 1275 – 1292 • Kublai Khan made him an official • Was captured Genoa and placed in prison- told stories the wonderful China. People didn’t believe him. A fellow prison gathered the stories. Instant success in Europe though most thought his stories to be fables. • Chinese economy prospered

  12. Decline of the Mongol Empires • Yuan China weakens • Failed conquests of Japan and SE Asia weakened armies • Treasury drained by • Spending on luxuries of the Emperors • Public works rebuilding • Failed conquests • Chinese peasant revolt overthrew last Yuan emperor in 1369 AD • Fall of the Ilkhanate of Persia in 1330s • Fall of Chagatai Khanate in 1370s

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