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

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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