Transcript Chapter 14—The Mongols

The Mongols
The Last Great Nomadic Challenge
Chapter 14
Pg. 302-322
Periodization
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1206— Mongol state founded
 1206-1227— rule of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan
1215— Mongols attack N. China (win it in 1234)
1219-1223— Russia/Islamic world invaded
1235-1279— S. China taken
 1260-1294— rule of Kublai Khan
1240— Russia taken (Mongols attack W. Europe)
1260— Mongols lose to Mamluks in Egypt
1274-1280— Mongol invasion of Japan fails
1360s-1405— rule of Timur-i Lang
Introduction
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Mongols challenge notions of “barbarian”
& “civilized”
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Capable of savage violence
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Rule also creates era of peaceful crosscultural exchange = Pax Mongolia
Mongol Empire of Chinggis Khan
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Mongols follow pattern of other nomadic
groups studied
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Tribe & clan make-up
Strong tribal leadership = bravery & diplomacy
Early Career of Chinggis Khan
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Born Temujin
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Violently avenged family
history
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Military strength led to
alliances & ascent to
supreme ruler
Mongol War Machine
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Born warriors w/ cavalry mobility
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Highly structured & disciplined armies
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Included scouts & spies
Effective & inventive weaponry
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Bow
Gunpowder
Conquest & First Assault
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Chinggis Khan led confederation of 2+ million
Assault on northern China
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Southern Song spared
Slowed by fortifications, but adapt
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Resistance = Retribution
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Turned conquest to Central Asia & fringes of
Islamic world
Life Under Mongol Rule
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Mongols = astute & tolerant rulers
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Stimulates trade, cultural exchange and
artistic creativity
Administration built on Muslim and
Chinese bureaucrats
Death of Chinggis Khan
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Death of Chinggis Khan led to division of
empire b/t sons…succeeded by Ogedei
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Splits into four khanates (see map pg 311)
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Golden Horde Empire—Russia
Ilkhan Empire—Persia
Djagatai Empire– Central Asia
Empire of Kublai Khan (Yuan Dynasty)—China
Drive West:
Mongol Assault on Russia
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Russian decline meant division & easy
winter conquest by Mongols
Russia in Bondage
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Mongol overlords → Russian princes =
vassals → peasants pressed into serfdom
Moscow grew in strength
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Became central city of Russian culture
QUESTION
In what ways does the
rule of the Golden
Horde mark a turning
point in Russian
history?
Retreat from Europe
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Legend of Prester John led to
underestimating Mongol threat
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Mongols proved capable of European
assault, but withdrew after Ogedei’s death
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Europe was spared a full assault
Drive West:
Mongol Assault on Middle East
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Ilkhan Khanate (led by Hulegu) set sights
on Middle East wealth
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1258: destroy Abbasid dynasty & Baghdad
1260:
Mamluks of Egypt & infighting defeat
the Mongols
VISUALIZING THE PAST:
Mongols as a Bridge
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Based on the map, answer the questions
in the inset on pg. 312
Drive South:
Mongol Interlude in China
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Kublai Khan established Yuan Dynasty
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Despite hard fought battles w/ Song
Attempted to keep Chinese & Mongols
separate
Administration
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No civil service exams
Only nomads & Muslims at imperial level
Chinese only at local levels
Gender Roles
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Mongol women retained rights & freedoms
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EX- advice of wife Chabi
Tolerance & Foreign Influence
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Yuan court welcomed & attracted many
scholars, artists, religious thinkers, etc
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EX- Marco Polo
Social Policies & Scholar-Gentry
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Yuan “foreign-ness” & policies alienated
scholar-gentry
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Yet, commercial & urban boom continued;
position of peasants bolstered
Fall of Yuan
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Decline resulted from usual circumstances…
1368-1644: Ming Dynasty replaced Yuan
Timur-i Lang: a Brief Interlude
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Complex figure
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Ruthless conqueror
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Last great nomadic
challenge
Global Connections
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Examples of postclassical themes:
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Impact of nomadic invaders
Extended world network - fostered spread of
trade, new ideas
Paved way for plague / Black Death
QUESTION
In what ways does the Mongol experience
mirror that of the Arabs?
Was Chinggis Khan more barbarian or more
civilized?
To what extent do you agree with the claim
that the postclassical period was “the
nomad’s last hurrah”?