Wait for it The Mongols The Mongolia Mongolia

Wait for it… The Mongols!!

The Mongolia • Mongolia is an area in east-central Asia. • Bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. • The land in Mongolia is not well suited for farming. • Most people living in Mongolia are nomadic • Excellent Equestrians

Chinggis(Genghis) Khan • • • At 20 began amassing an army to take over all Mongolian clans and unit them under his rule. Genghis Khan conquered the largest (contiguous) land empire in the history of the world. The Mongol Empire lasted from 1206 -1368 Genghis khan is noted in history for violent and ruthless conquering. The Mongols were more than the Barbarian stereotype. They were disciplined and well organized.

The Mongol Empire • • • Once the Mongol Empire was established things were relatively peaceful. Pax-mongolica Religious freedom was allowed under Mongol rule. Trade along the silk road was booming and peaceful. Linked Asia and Europe. Created infrastructure: roads, postal service. Mongol leaders used Confucius principles and scholars. Allowed the building of temples and palaces. Mongol leaders funded scientific study and advances in medicine.

Khubilai Khan • Chinggis Khan’s grandson • Ruled from 1260 -1294 • Fascinated by Chinese culture. • Becomes Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. • Meets Marco Polo

Marco Polo • • • 1254 -1324 Italian explorer along the silk road. First European to chronical his trip to Asia. “Book of the Marvels of the World” Father and Uncle are Marco’s traveling companions trying to fulfill Kublai Khan’s requests for Christian Priests and scholars. Marco Polo’s book was immensely influential inspiring cartographers and explorers like Christopher Columbus.

The Ottoman Empire

The basics • Large Muslim Empire • 1299 -1924 • Located in modern day Turkey, Northwest Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Europe. • Constantinople was the capitol of the Ottoman Empire • Rulers were called Sultans • Allowed people to pay a tax if they wished to practice a religion other than Islam.

Suleiman “The Magnificent” • 1520 -1566 • Best years of empire. • Named the “Magnificent” or “Law-giver” because he wrote a system of laws. • Achieved harmony and justice in the Ottoman Empire. • Feared and respected all over the world. • Turned Constantinople into an art center, created many mosques.

Decline of Ottoman Empire • Over hundreds of years the empire grew weak. • Had problems competing with industrialized countries. • Sultan Mehmed V fought along side with Germany in World War I and lost. • By 1924, the empire had crumbled and modern Turkey had taken its place.

A new age for Turkey • A Ottoman general named Ataturk came to power after World War I. • He formed modern day Turkey. • Ataturk began political, social and economic reforms. • He sought to remove religion from government.