Bell Work:

• On the bottom of your homework response please answer the following question: – What gave the Mughals (and all 3 Muslim empires) an

advantage in their conquests?– What is one thing that separated the Mughals’

conquest from the other two Muslim empires?• Please get out on your desk:– Your Essential Geography Map and handout – Your response to the question “How did geography

shape the formation of the three Muslim Empires?”

Mongol Wrap-Up

• The Mongol invasion of China was the last in a series of eruptions from the nomadic territories of Central Asia that had earlier seen such groups as the Indo-Europeans and Huns pour out.

• Probably some combination of population pressure in a fairly fragile nomadic economy, political rivalries, and divisions in China itself prompted the Mongols to eye the rich society to their east. The Mongols had long been one of several border people harassing the Chinese and pressing into Chinese territory during the Song dynasty.

Early in the 13th century, Chinggis Khan conquered a good bit of China. The conquest was completed in ensuing decades, so that Chinggis’s grandson, Kublai Khan, became ruler of China. This Mongol rule, known as the Yuan dynasty, would last for most of the next century.

The Yuan• Once in power, the Mongols made use of the Chinese

government system and bureaucracy, along with Confucian values. Although they disapproved of many aspects of Chinese culture, they were generally tolerant.

• Mongol rule in China brought clear economic benefits, expanding both manufacturing and trade opportunities.

• In addition to Chinese bureaucrats, the Mongols used a variety of foreign administrators in a deliberate attempt to open up the society to a wider set of influences.

Decline

• Mongol rule began to decline in the latter part of the 14th century.

• The Mongols were unsuccessful in two efforts at invading Japan by sea, suggesting some limits to their capacity for expansion.,

• The Chinese began to organize more effectively against Mongol rule, ousted the Mongols in the latter part of the 14th century, and quickly established the Ming dynasty.

• Mongol rule in Russia ended later.

Reaction• The end of the Mongol

period for world history meant a return to increasing political barriers; the opportunities for overland travel between Europe and China receded for a considerable period of time.

• China developed systems to protect them from being invaded again– Example: The Great Wall

1450 c.

• Almost all world historians agree that around 1450 or 1500 a significant break occurred in world history.

• By 1450, the great era of Arab politics and merchant activity had passed, as had the Mongol era.

• Given the demise of these two great systems and the continued importance of interregional economic and cultural contacts, what kind of system would replace these previous frameworks?

China

• With the expulsion of the Mongols from China at the end of the 14th century, the Ming dynasty came to power. Like many new dynasties, it was vigorous, benefiting from an expanding economy and interested in new political statements and a degree of territorial expansion.

Middle East and SE Europe

• The decline of Arab rule in these regions left openings for the immigration of new peoples from Central Asia, particularly the Osmanli Turks or Ottoman Turks, who began to appear around 1450.

• The Ottoman Empire were fervent Muslims• Significant event: conquered Constantinople

(Capital of the Byzantine Empire) in 1453

India

• Developments in India were not marked by any dramatic shifts around 1450. The more dramatic changes would come 50 or 70 years later with a new series of Islamic invasions into India.

Muslim Empires

• Ottoman Empire – Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, SE Europe

• Safavid Empire – Persia/Iraq• Mughal Empire - India• Known as “gunpowder empires”

Mughal Empire

• The Mughal Empire emerged in India in the early-16th century as a result of invasions from a force that operated through Afghanistan.

• Babur was a direct descendant of the Turkish Ghengis Khan and Timur from Tamerlane.

• Defeated the Delhi Sultanate & established the Mughal Empire.– Gunpowder, a skilled commander, trained soldiers on horses

contributed to the victory• Gained control of the whole northern India – Made Agra capital

• He reigned for 4 short years and died at age 47 in 1530.• Did not enact new laws or organization in the empire due to

early his death

Babur

Major Contributions• Mughal contributions to India were numerous. At its high point,

the Mughal Empire encompassed a system of considerable tolerance and a mixture of Hindus and Muslims.

• The Mughals introduced additional cultural richness into the Indian tradition, including Persian and Western artistic influences as well as important individual symbols such as the Taj Mahal.

• The Mughals promoted the possibility of creating larger territorial units in the Indian subcontinent, which would feed directly into Indian unity after the passing of British rule.

• The Mughals developed administrative and taxation structures that had lasting impact in India.

• The Mughals were interested in reforming certain traditional Indian practices, such as the practice of sati, though results here were meager.