Mongol Empire Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge

Mongol Empire

Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: – Locating major trade routes – Identifying technological advances and transfers Questions – What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C. E. – How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?

Building the Mongol Empire Nomads of the Asian Steppe – Steppe- dry grassland Can have extreme temperature – Two steppes Western Steppe extends from Eastern Europe to Central Asia Eastern Steppe covers present -day Mongolia – Boundaries constantly shift – Nomads who lived in the steppe mainly practiced pastoralism Constantly on the move Skilled on horseback – Traveled together in kinship groups called clans Mongols – Nomads Grazed horses and sheep on steppes – from the Eastern steppe – Characteristics Tough skilled warriors Skilled horseman Clans often fought each other for power

Genghis Khan Born Temujin in 1160 s C. E. 1200 s C. E. unifies the clans under his leadership – Defeats rivals 1206 C. E. Takes name Genghis Khan or “Universal Emperor”

Rise of Genghis Military conquests – First goal: China Invaded in 1215 C. E. – Second goal: the Islamic region in Mongolia Conquered by 1221 C. E. Characteristics of success – Brilliant organizer Imposed strict military discipline Had highly trained mobile army – Gifted strategist – Adopted new weapons and technologies used by enemies – Used cruelty as a weapon Genghis Khan died in 1227 C. E. – Successors would continue to expand empire – Son Ogadi became the “Great Khan”

Conquests Genghis Khan’s ancestors continued his conquest of China – Dominated Asia for 150 years – Spread from Russia to Europe Almost reached Western Europe After Ogadai’s death in 1241 C. E. the empire was split into four khanates – Khanate of the Great Khan Mongolia and China – Khanate of Chagatai Central Asia – The Ilkhanate Persia – Khanate of the Golden Horde Russia Conquerors – Wiped out entire populations of cities Destroyed ancient irrigation systems in Mesopotamia – Not oppressive rulers Only had to pay tribute – Began to adopt customs of the cultures they ruled

Mongol Peace Period called Pax Mongolica – From mid -1200 s to mid 1300 s Mongols protected the silk road – Set stage for economic growth – Increased foods, tools, inventions, and ideas flourished along trade routes From China – – Windmills Gunpowder Papermaking Bubonic plague? To China – From Middle East Crops Trees

China under the Mongols Genghis’ grandson Kublai Khan conquered south China, the Song Dynasty, in 1279 – Called it the Yuan Dynasty – Kublai Khan ruled all of China, Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam from the capital in Khanbaliq ( Beiijing) Yuan Dynasty (1279. - 1368 C. E. ) – Important period for Chinese history – United China for the 1 st time in 300 years – Control imposed by Mongols brought cultural diffusion to China – Tolerated Chinese government and made few changes Japan – Tried to conquer in 1274 and 1281 C. E. 2 nd attempt was largest seaborne invasion until D-Day during WWII

Mongol Rule in China Mongol Rule – Mongols kept separate identity Lived apart from Chinese – Obeyed different laws Mongols occupied higher positions in government – Achievements restored the Grand Canal – extended it 135 miles to Beijing Paved a highways over 1, 100 miles Ensured steady supply of grain and goods from South Foreign Trade – Kublai Khan encouraged foreign trade – Mongol peace provided safe caravan routes Greatly improved trade – Invited foreign merchants to visit China Mainly Muslims from India, Central Asia, and Persia Christians also reached China

Marco Polo Most famous European to visit China – Arrived around 1275 C. E. Spent 17 years in China working for Kublai Khan – Sent on government missions Wrote vivid account of wealth and splendor of China – Described mail system – Described city of Hangzhou Astonished Europeans with stories of rich Asia – Most didn’t believe stories

Fall of the Mongols Mongol armies advanced into Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, and Japan – Conquered Vietnam Fell victim to too many conquests, corruption at court, and growing internal instability Kublai Khan died in 1294 C. E. – Mongol rule weakened after – Rebellions broke out 1368 C. E. rebels overthrew the Mongols Decline of the Mongol Empire – By the end of the Yuan dynasty, the Mongol empire had disentigrated – Lost Persia in 1330 s C. E. – Lost Central Asia in 1370 s C. E. – Only retained power in Russia until 1480 C. E.

Objectives The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: – Locating major trade routes – Identifying technological advances and transfers Questions – What were the major trading routes in the Eastern Hemisphere from 1000 to 1500 C. E. – How did trade facilitate the diffusion of goods and ideas among different cultures?