The MongolsThe Mongols

I. BackgroundI. BackgroundA.A. The Mongols were The Mongols were nomads nomads from the from the

eastern steppe (fields) in loosely eastern steppe (fields) in loosely organized organized clansclans..

A.A. Around 1200, a clan Around 1200, a clan leader named leader named Temujin defeated Temujin defeated rival clan leaders to rival clan leaders to unify the Mongols unify the Mongols

B.B. In 1206, he accepted In 1206, he accepted the title the title Genghis Genghis KhanKhan, , or or “universal ruler.”“universal ruler.”

II. UnificationII. Unification

According to legend, Temujin was born with a According to legend, Temujin was born with a blood clot in his fist. In his lifetime, his hands blood clot in his fist. In his lifetime, his hands were covered with the blood of others. When were covered with the blood of others. When Temujin was about nine, the Tatars, a rival Temujin was about nine, the Tatars, a rival clan, poisoned his father. When in manhood, he clan, poisoned his father. When in manhood, he fought and defeated the Tatars, slaughtering fought and defeated the Tatars, slaughtering every male taller than a cart axel.every male taller than a cart axel.

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IV. The Mongol “War Machine”IV. The Mongol “War Machine”

A.A. Mongols were skilled horsemen Mongols were skilled horsemen

B.B. Weapons Weapons

1. bows, swords, javelins, hooked 1. bows, swords, javelins, hooked lances, lances, canons canons (new technology (new technology used to defeat the Chinese)used to defeat the Chinese)

C. Strategy-C. Strategy-

1. Mock retreats tricked the enemy1. Mock retreats tricked the enemy

2. Flag signals2. Flag signals

3. Terrified enemies into surrender3. Terrified enemies into surrender

If a city refused to open its gates to him, If a city refused to open its gates to him, he might kill the entire population upon he might kill the entire population upon

capturecapture

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Mongol armies Mongol armies developed a system of developed a system of signal flags used during signal flags used during battle. The black and battle. The black and white flags transmitted white flags transmitted orders to Mongol units orders to Mongol units who moved swiftly who moved swiftly while confusing and while confusing and overwhelming their overwhelming their disorganized disorganized opponents. At night, opponents. At night, lanterns and flaming lanterns and flaming arrows were used in arrows were used in place of flags.place of flags.

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Each Mongol soldier Each Mongol soldier wore a long silk wore a long silk undershirt. When hit undershirt. When hit with an arrow, he could with an arrow, he could remove it by carefully remove it by carefully pulling on the silk, which pulling on the silk, which usually entered the usually entered the wound with the arrow. wound with the arrow. Upon witnessing Upon witnessing Mongols pulling arrows Mongols pulling arrows from their bodies, some from their bodies, some became convinced that became convinced that the Mongols were the Mongols were superhuman!superhuman!

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Mongol soldiers often Mongol soldiers often died of infection from died of infection from battle wounds caused, battle wounds caused, in part, to poor in part, to poor hygiene. Mongol hygiene. Mongol warriors rarely warriors rarely washed. When they washed. When they did, they used urine did, they used urine from their horses. from their horses. Their clothing was Their clothing was often worn until it often worn until it literally rotted off.literally rotted off.

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III. Vast EmpireIII. Vast EmpireA.A. Genghis conquered Central Asia by 1225.Genghis conquered Central Asia by 1225.

B.B. The Mongols continued to conquer Asia.The Mongols continued to conquer Asia.

By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge empire into four regions, or empire into four regions, or khanateskhanates..

A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate.A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate.

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““There can be no doubt that even if for a There can be no doubt that even if for a thousand years to come no evil befalls the thousand years to come no evil befalls the country, it will not be possible to completely country, it will not be possible to completely repair the damage, and bring back the land to repair the damage, and bring back the land to the state in which it was formerly.”the state in which it was formerly.”

““There can be no doubt that even if for a There can be no doubt that even if for a thousand years to come no evil befalls the thousand years to come no evil befalls the country, it will not be possible to completely country, it will not be possible to completely repair the damage, and bring back the land to repair the damage, and bring back the land to the state in which it was formerly.”the state in which it was formerly.”

C. As rulers: C. As rulers: 1. While ferocious in war, the 1. While ferocious in war, the

Mongols wereMongols were tolerant tolerant rulers.rulers.

V. The Pax MongoliaV. The Pax MongoliaA.A. During the 1200’s and 1300s, the During the 1200’s and 1300s, the

Mongols imposed stability and order Mongols imposed stability and order across Eurasia.across Eurasia.

B.B. This period is called the This period is called the Pax MongoliaPax Mongolia, , or Mongol Peace.or Mongol Peace.

C.C. Traders, travelers and missionaries Traders, travelers and missionaries enjoyed safety along the Silk Road.enjoyed safety along the Silk Road.

D.D. Trade between Europe and Asia Trade between Europe and Asia skyrocketed but disease, like the skyrocketed but disease, like the plague, also spread.plague, also spread.

VI. Kublai KhanVI. Kublai KhanA.A. Genghiz Khan’s grandson.Genghiz Khan’s grandson.

B.B. He He founded the founded the Yuan dynasty Yuan dynasty in in ChinaChina

C.C. He reserved gov’t jobs for Mongols. He reserved gov’t jobs for Mongols. The Chinese resented this.The Chinese resented this.

The walls were covered with gold and The walls were covered with gold and silver and the Dining Hall was so large silver and the Dining Hall was so large that it could easily dine 6,000 people. that it could easily dine 6,000 people. The palace was made of cane The palace was made of cane supported by 200 silk cords, which supported by 200 silk cords, which could be taken to pieces and could be taken to pieces and transported easily when the Emperor transported easily when the Emperor moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud of 10,000 white horses, whose milk was of 10,000 white horses, whose milk was reserved for his family and for a tribe reserved for his family and for a tribe which had won a victory for Genghis which had won a victory for Genghis Khan. Khan.

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D. Marco Polo, an Italian merchant, traveled to the Yuan Dynasty.

VII. DeclineVII. DeclineA.A. Lands were too large and diverse to Lands were too large and diverse to

govern effectively.govern effectively.

B.B. Mongols had little experience in gov’t.Mongols had little experience in gov’t.

C.C. After the death of the Khans, the After the death of the Khans, the Mongols got pushed back behind the Mongols got pushed back behind the Great Wall.Great Wall.

D.D. The Russians resented the Mongols for The Russians resented the Mongols for centuries of isolationcenturies of isolation

Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireTextbook – page 309Textbook – page 309

From From World History: Connections to Today World History: Connections to Today Prentice Hall, Prentice Hall, 20032003