the mongol empire – 13 th century
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The Mongol Empire – 13th Century
Chinggis (Gengis) and Kublai Khan
•
Characteristics of the Mongols
• Eastern steppes• Pastoral nomads• Lived in yurts• Excellent riders• Clan (basic unit)• Traded and invaded
Chinggis Khan (Temujin)
• Mongol tribes in constant warfare
• meritocracy• Teen Temujin took
title of universal ruler (1206)
• Ravaged Asia for 21 years
Building the Mongol War Machine• Characteristics:
• Training of warriors• Variety of weapons• Armies were entirely composed of cavalry
• Contributions of Chinggis Khan• Organization, discipline, and unity of command• Division of armies into tumens• Separate messenger force and mapping unit• Generous to brave foes
Mongol Goals
• First conquered China• Turned to Islamic
central Asia• Campaign of terror
destroyed city after city
• Witty strategies• Cruelty = weapon
The Mongol Empire
• 50 years > conquered from China to Poland• Only India and western Europe escaped the
full fury of the Mongol assault• 1260 divided into Khanates
• Great Khan• Chagatai• Golden Horde• Ilkhanate
• Ferocious in war, tolerant in peace
• Mongols adopted cultural aspects of those they conquered (Confucian and Islamic scholars)
• PAX MONGOLICA: safe passage for trade caravans invigorated the Silk Routes
Mongols in China
• Kublai Khan: grandson founded the Yuan Dynasty, united for the 1st time in 300 years
• Opened China to greater contact/trade• Constructed capital in Beijing: Forbidden CityAfter conquering the Chinese, Mongols adapted
• Gunpowder projectiles• Bronze cannons• Compass• Government organization
Japan
• Kublai tried to rule Japan in 1274 and 1281
• Sent huge fleets constructed by Korea• 150,000 warriors • 1st time fought to standstill• 2nd time typhoon: Kamikaze
Marco Polo and the Mongol Court
• 1275 Venetian trader: Silk Roads
• Served Kublai Khan for 17 years
• Imprisoned he revealed his “stories”• Fabulous cities• Coal• Government/social organization• Historical inaccuracies in his tale
Fall of the House of YuanMongols ruled China for nine decades
• Causes of the Mongol fall in China:• Song revolts in the south: Famine, flood,
disease• Open expression of hostility against the
Mongols• Failure in Japan, Vietnam, and Java• “Softer” leaders following Kublai Khan
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