Mongol Conquests Background As the Chinese enjoy the
Mongol Conquests
Background • As the Chinese enjoy the Song Dynasty… – An enemy to the north was starting to gain strength
Asian Steppe Two purposes • Trade route connecting East to West • Home to nomadic people
Asian Steppe http: //www. mefrg. org/habitat. asp
Yurt http: //www. yurtinfo. org/yurtstory. php
Video
Nomadic People • Pastoralists – Herded domestic animals • Always on the move following seasonal patterns in clans • Depended on animals to survive • Used to hardship and scarcity • Makes for tough people
Why were the people of the steppe region nomadic? • Dry, windswept land makes poor farmland
Mongols • For years have been divided into nomadic tribes Leadership? • Temujin otherwise known as Genghis Khan or “Universal Ruler”
Genghis Khan • In 1200, united the Mongols under common goal • First step to invade China • Destroying one city at a time • 1225 Central Asia under Mongol control
Genghis Khan • “Man’s greatest fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, and ride his horse. ”
Key Characteristics of Genghis Khan • Brilliant Organizer • Strategic Genius • Ferocious – No mercy
What are advantages to using cruelty as a weapon? • Some enemies surrendering without a fight What are some disadvantages? • Unrest among survivors
New Leadership • Genghis dies from illness • Successors continue to expand empire • Created largest unified land empire in history
Mongols as Leaders • Some conquered areas never recovered • Tigris & Euphrates River valleys could no longer support settlements • Rarely imposed beliefs on conquered people • Often adopted aspects of different cultures
Mongol Peace • Imposed stability and law over area • Safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries • Ideas and inventions as well as trade goods were shared
Mongol Empire Kublai Khan • Grandson of Genghis • United China • Greater foreign contacts & trade • Mongols lived separately from Chinese
Mongol Empire Marco Polo • From Venice • Sent by Kublai Khan to Chinese cities on missions • Stories of mission made into book • Fails to mention many aspects of Chinese culture • Some doubt Polo’s word
End of Empire • Kublai Khan’s death • Rebellion of Chinese • Natural disasters & economic problems • 1368 Mongol Empire overthrown
Complete Mongol Fighting Force Notes & Map
- Slides: 22