The Mongol Empire – 13th Century

Chinggis (Gengis) and Kublai Khan

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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