Chapter 12Section 2

Key Terms

Pastroralists Clan Genghis Khan Pax Mongolica

Nomads and the Asia Steppe

Two Eurasia steppes

Land trade route connector

Home to nomadic people Plunder Loot Conquer their

neighbors

Geography of the Steppe

Western steppe central Asia

Home to the Hittites Eastern steppe Home to Huns, Turks

and Mongols Very little rain Temps from -57 to 96 Climate milder in

west

The Nomadic Way of Life

Pastoralists-herded domestic animals

Searching for food Followed seasonal

patterns Battles arose over

water rights Asian nomads

lived on horsback

The Nomadic Way of Life

• Depended on animals for– Food– Clothing– Housing

• Diet was meat and maer’s milk

• Clothing of skins and wool

• Lived in tents called yurts

Nomadic Way of Life

Clans- kinship groups that traveled together

Descended from a common ancestor

Steppes, Nomads and Settled Societies• Peaceful trade• Exchanged horses for

grain, metal and cloth• Prided themselves on

toughness• Took what they wanted

from towns people• Nomadic people

eventually become part of who they conquer

The Rise of the Mongols

• Roamed the eastern steppe

• Temujin unites the Mongols

• 1206 accepts name Genghis Khan- universal ruler

• 21 years led the Mongols to conquer much of Asia

The Rise of Mongols

• Muslims murder traders and Ambassadors of Khan.

• Launches campaign of terror across Central Asia

• Destroy one city after another

• 1225 Central Asia under Mongol control

Genghis the Conquer

Brilliant organizer Armies of 10,000 1,000 man brigades 100 man companies 10 man squads

Gifted strategists Tricks to confuse

the enemy Small group draw in

opposing army

Genghis the Conqueror

Cruelty as a weapon Terrifying into

surrender Don’t open gates, kill

whole population Most towns surrender

“In most countries that have not yet been overrun by them, everyone spends the night afraid they may appear there too”

The Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan died 1227

Successors conquered from China to Poland

Largest unified empire in history

The Khanates

Sons and grandsons continued conquests

Leveled Kiev, China, Korea, close to Venice

1250 halted westward expansion

The Khanates

1260 divided into four regions or khanates Khanate of the

great Khan (China, Mongolia)

Khanate of Chagatai Ikhanate (Persia) Khanate of the

golden Horde (Russia)

The Mongols as Rulers

Populations of some cities were wiped out

Destroyed ancient irrigation systems

Tolerant in peace Adopted some of

existing cultures Some became

Muslims Led to furthersplits

The Mongol Peace

Pax Mongolica-1200-1300’s stability and law

Safe passage of trade caravans, travelers and missionaries

Trade between Europe and Asia increased

Bubonic plague possibly came from the Mongols