The Mongols Mongols on the attack. Nomads of the Steppe Geography: steppe divided into West, East...
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Transcript of The Mongols Mongols on the attack. Nomads of the Steppe Geography: steppe divided into West, East...
The Mongols
Mongols on the attack
Nomads of the Steppe
• Geography: steppe divided into West, East– West steppe: Central Asia
to Eastern Europe– East steppe: Mongolia
• Very little rain, extreme temps (-57 to 96 F)
• Short hardy grass covered steppe
Nomadic Life
• Nomads who herded domesticated animals
• Depended on herds for food, clothing, housing
• Divided into clans, or family based groups
• Tribes (groups of clans) gathered to trade, elect king (ceremonial; little power)
Nomadic Life• Practically lived on
horseback– Arguably most skilled riders in
history– Owned 6-10 horses each– Could ride 100+ miles a day– Drank horse’s blood in
emergency; raw meat trick
• Steppe horses– Short legged, large heads (not
ponies!)– 4 million horses to about 1
million Mongols
Nomads vs. Settled Peoples• Why conflict?
– Nomads needed manufactured goods
– Nomads tempted to raid towns, merchants
– Strong empires resisted by building large armies, walls
Rise of Genghis Khan• 1200: a leader, Temujin,
united Mongol tribes• 1206: named Genghis
Khan, meaning “universal leader”
• Invaded Northern China and destroyed kingdom, devastating population
• Moved W against Muslims in Central Asia– Emissary story– Slaughter of Khwarezm
people until Sultanate surrendered
Genghis Khan• Brilliant organizer
– Standardized troop formations (10000 / 1000 / 100 / 10) along tribal lines
• Brilliant strategist– Use of missile troops and
shock troops– Tricks, strategies of hunt
• Used skills of captives to benefit army– Ex - siege weapons
• Used fear, terror to conquer• Est. largest geographic
empire in history
Mongol EmpireDivision of Empire (click here)
a) Khanate of Great Khan (family elected a son of Genghis)
b) Khanate of Chagadai (son)
c) Ilkhanate (son)
d) Khanate of Golden Horde (son)
Mongol Rule• Genghis died, 1227; son,
Tolui, succeeded him• Europe “saved” in 1241 w/
death of Tolui Yuan Dynasty (1264-1368)– Government of Mongols
• Capital moved to Beijing• Mongols, foreigners put over
Chinese• Kept Chinese customs of
dynastic name, merit bureaucracy
– Silk Road reopened (silk, porcelain)
AKA “Great Khanate”
Mongol Rule: Marco Polo
• Venetian merchant who traveled w/ dad to China
• Arrived in 1275• Became part of court of
Kublai Khan; served for 17 years
• Returned to Europe in 1295
End of Mongol Rule in China• Fall of Yuan Dynasty
– Kublai Khan died 1294– Breakdown of Mongol war
machine• Mongols got lazy, soft• Very corrupt rulers
– Chinese hated Mongols (barbarians)
– Famine broke out (floods, disease)
– Rebellion broke out, pushed Mongols out
– Chinese established the Ming Dynasty
First Ming Emperor, Hongwu