Transcript The Mongols
The Mongols Genghis & Kublai Khan • Mongol horses were small, but their riders were lightly clad and they moved with greater speed. • These were hardy men who grew up on horses and hunting, making them better warriors than those who grew up in agricultural societies and cities. • Their main weapon was the bow and arrow. And the Mongols of the early 1200s were highly disciplined, superbly coordinated and brilliant in tactics. Mongols were nomadic people • Genghis Khan- born Temüjin, was the founder and Great Khan(emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history • He came to power by uniting many of the Mongol nomadic tribes • He devotes himself to conquest. Mongols invades China • They encounter gunpowder; and the fire lance which evolves into the cannon • The Mongol Empire eventually occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia, Russia and Middle East • Genghis Khan embraced the diversity of his newly conquered territories. • He passed laws declaring religious freedom for all and even granted tax exemptions to places of worship. • This tolerance had a political side—the Khan knew that happy subjects were less likely to rebel • They did this through extracting tribute and obedience • Genghis divided his empire among his sons and grandsons into several khanates (sub-territories) • Their khans were expected to follow the Great Khan, who was initially Genghis’ son Khanates • He claimed the title of Khan of the Mongol Empire in 1260 after the death of his older brother • Was a prominent Mongol ruler in the 13th century and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis Khan • Kublai Khan’s control opened China up to more trade and foreign contact • Enjoyed living in luxury as Chinese emperor • Attempted to take over Japan but Japanese might and weather halted the invasion • Kublai Khan improved the Grand Canal and added 135 miles to it • He adopted the Chinese political system and used Chinese bureaucrats Kublai Khan • Neo-Confucianism was an attempt to create a more rationalist and secular form of Confucianism by rejecting superstitious and mystical elements of Daoism and Buddhism • Buddhism was a foreign religion and its monasteries had gained land, serfs and power over the elites • Neo-Confucians claimed they had become corrupt Buddhism vs. Confucianism • • • • Poetry was the main form of literature Over 48,000 were poems written Li Bo & Duo- Fu were the most popular Nature, joy of friendship and free spirit were the favorite subjects • Painting – void of bright colors • Ceramics – porcelain Golden age of art & literature • Kublai Khan’s armies and navies suffered many defeats at a huge expense of lives and equipment • Heavy spending on wars, public works, and Yuan luxuries over burdened the treasury and overtaxed citizens • When Kublai Khan died his successors were inept at ruling the dynasty • In 1368 Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols • The Ming Dynasty was be established • The fall of the Yuan came the disintegration of the Mongol empire in Asia • Japan was on the rise The End of Mongol Rule in China