Comparing and Contrasting Comparing and Contrasting the Mongols and the the Mongols and the

EuropeansEuropeans

Mongol overland invasions of the Mongol overland invasions of the 1313thth century and the early modern century and the early modern

maritime explorations of the maritime explorations of the EuropeansEuropeans

The MongolsThe Mongols Genghis Khan unified Mongol tribes in late 12Genghis Khan unified Mongol tribes in late 12thth

centurycentury• Devoted himself to military pursuitsDevoted himself to military pursuits

Army was not exceptionally largeArmy was not exceptionally large• Less than 130,000Less than 130,000

Mastery of military tactics set them apartMastery of military tactics set them apart• Mounted warriors surrounded enemies and harassed Mounted warriors surrounded enemies and harassed

them, luring them into pursuit and then ambushing themthem, luring them into pursuit and then ambushing them• New weapons, like compound bow and the fire-lanceNew weapons, like compound bow and the fire-lance

Mongol InvasionsMongol Invasions ChinaChina

• Attacked Song in 1260’s and defeated Attacked Song in 1260’s and defeated remnants of Song navy in 1279remnants of Song navy in 1279

• Started new Yuan dynastyStarted new Yuan dynasty• Mongol aristocrats were reserved high Mongol aristocrats were reserved high

government positions and kept themselves government positions and kept themselves apart from Chinese peasantsapart from Chinese peasants

• Fostered prosperityFostered prosperity Encouraged long-distance tradeEncouraged long-distance trade

• Expanded boundariesExpanded boundaries Entire Eurasian land massEntire Eurasian land mass

Mongol InvasionsMongol Invasions VietnamVietnam

• Attempted in late 13Attempted in late 13thth century, but driven out century, but driven out• Guerilla warfareGuerilla warfare

KoreaKorea• Seized northern part of country and Seized northern part of country and

assimilated into Yuanassimilated into Yuan JapanJapan

• In 1266, invaded with army of over 30,000In 1266, invaded with army of over 30,000• Bad weather and difficult conditions forced Bad weather and difficult conditions forced

retreatretreat• Again in 1281, with army of nearly 150,000Again in 1281, with army of nearly 150,000• Held for 2 months, then destroyed by massive Held for 2 months, then destroyed by massive

typhoontyphoon

The EuropeansThe Europeans

ReasonsReasons• Potential for economic gain through Potential for economic gain through

increased world tradeincreased world trade• Desire to spread ChristianityDesire to spread Christianity• Improved cartography, navigational Improved cartography, navigational

methods, and ship desiresmethods, and ship desires• Competition between other European Competition between other European

countriescountries Attracted to the EastAttracted to the East

• Myths and legends of riches and magicMyths and legends of riches and magic

The EuropeansThe Europeans Fairly accurate mapsFairly accurate maps Remarkably seaworthy shipsRemarkably seaworthy ships

• Lateen sailsLateen sails• Square rigSquare rig

Enabled them…Enabled them…• To sail against the windTo sail against the wind• Engage in warfareEngage in warfare• Carry substantial amounts of goodsCarry substantial amounts of goods

Used compass and astrolabeUsed compass and astrolabe Knowledge of wind patterns in Atlantic Knowledge of wind patterns in Atlantic

OceanOcean

Portuguese Maritime EmpirePortuguese Maritime Empire Prince Henry the Navigator (1394 – 1460)Prince Henry the Navigator (1394 – 1460)

• Explored coast of AfricaExplored coast of Africa• Brought cargo of black Africans in 1441Brought cargo of black Africans in 1441

Bartolomeu DiasBartolomeu Dias• Round of Cape of Good Hope in 1487Round of Cape of Good Hope in 1487

Vasco de GamaVasco de Gama• Calicut, India on May 18, 1498Calicut, India on May 18, 1498• ““Christians and spices”Christians and spices”

Admiral Afonso de AlbuquerqueAdmiral Afonso de Albuquerque• Took over Malacca in 1511Took over Malacca in 1511

Success was a matter of guns and Success was a matter of guns and seamanshipseamanship

Voyages to New WorldVoyages to New World Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506)Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506)

• Reached Americas in October 1492Reached Americas in October 1492 John CabotJohn Cabot

• New England coastline of the AmericasNew England coastline of the Americas Pedro CabralPedro Cabral

• Discovered South America in 1500Discovered South America in 1500 Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci

• Accompanied voyages and described New World’s Accompanied voyages and described New World’s geographygeography

Hernan CortesHernan Cortes• Overthrew mighty Aztecs in central MexicoOverthrew mighty Aztecs in central Mexico

Franciso PizarroFranciso Pizarro• Controlled Incas in Peruvian AndesControlled Incas in Peruvian Andes

The DutchThe Dutch

In 1602, Dutch East India In 1602, Dutch East India Company establishedCompany established

Formed Dutch West India Formed Dutch West India Company in 1621Company in 1621

Settlements established Settlements established in Brazil, the Caribbean, in Brazil, the Caribbean, and North Americaand North America

Profits never large Profits never large enough to compensate enough to compensate for expendituresfor expenditures

The EnglishThe English

Seized Dutch colony in 1664 and named it Seized Dutch colony in 1664 and named it New YorkNew York

French began to cede some of their French began to cede some of their American possessions to English rivalAmerican possessions to English rival

Created colonial empire in New World Created colonial empire in New World along Atlantic seaboard of North Americaalong Atlantic seaboard of North America• Virginia CompanyVirginia Company• Massachusetts Bay CompanyMassachusetts Bay Company

However, North American colonies were of However, North American colonies were of little significance to English economylittle significance to English economy

Impact of European ExpansionImpact of European Expansion

Ancient social and political structures were ripped up Ancient social and political structures were ripped up and replaced by European institutions, religion, and replaced by European institutions, religion, language, and culturelanguage, and culture

New era of commercial capitalismNew era of commercial capitalism Deepened rivalries and increased tensions among Deepened rivalries and increased tensions among

European statesEuropean states

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

Whenever the Mongols tried their luck overseas, Whenever the Mongols tried their luck overseas, they failed, very much opposite of the Europeansthey failed, very much opposite of the Europeans

Both the Mongols and the Europeans held Both the Mongols and the Europeans held themselves above the societies they encountered themselves above the societies they encountered and conqueredand conquered