Transcript File
Chapter 12 – The Mongols (and the rest of east Asia) Tang/Song China • The Tang Dynasty (618-907) produced Porcelain, Mechanical Clocks, Block Printing, and Explosive Powder. • The Song Dynasty (960-1279) produced Movable Type, Paper Money and the Magnetic Compass The Mongols • The Mongols were nomads of the Asian steppes. They operated like pirates, only on land. They frequently raided trade caravans. – They were pastoralists – this means they didn’t wander but followed seasonal patterns and returned to the same areas over and over. Temujin Also known as Genghis Khan (which means “Universal Ruler”) Genghis Khan • He was orphaned at age 9 – left clanless and lived in extreme poverty. His life became solely about revenge and conquest. • “ Man’s greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing and ride his horse.” The Mongol Conquests • Over the next 21 years Khan leads the Mongols in conquering much of Asia. His first goal was China, but he switched focus west onto the Muslim world because he was angered by killings of Mongol traders by Muslims. • Mongols destroyed cities and populations rather than controlling them. Reasons for Genghis Khan’s Success • He was a brilliant organizer – Armies of 10000, 1000 man brigades, 100 man companies, 10 man squads. • He was a gifted strategist – employed many tricks, feints, varying strategies, etc… • He used cruelty/terror as a weapon. Towns would surrender in advance if they heard of the Mongols in the area. Mongol Soldiers • Lightning fast – could cover 120 miles/day at full gallop – superb, lifelong horsemen. Each took 4 horses so they could ride for 10 days at a time. • Resourceful – if food was scarce, they’d gash the neck of one of their horses & drink its blood. • The stirrup – Invented 2nd century BC, it allows the Mongol horsemen to stand, turn, and shoot arrows from the saddle. Silk underwear stopped many arrows . The Khanates By 1294 the Mongols had created the largest unified land empire in the history of the world. The Pax Mongolica • The Mongol Empire was split into 4 Khanates, each ruled by a descendant of Genghis Khan. • Rulers were actually tolerant and soon adapted to their subjects (i.e. Ilkhans & Golden Horde became Muslim). • The Pax Mongolica (1250’s – 1350’s) guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans. Kublai Khan • He began the Yuan Dynasty in China. He abandoned the steppes of Mongolia and made his capital in Beijing. • Marco Polo was a Viennese trader who wrote of Kublai Khan’s court – unbelievable to Europeans. The Fall of the Mongol Empire • Kublai Khan failed twice to take Japan – Samurai held them off both times. • In 1368 China overthrows Mongol rule • The Ilkhanate falls to Persia in 1330. • The Chagtai Khanate dissolves in 1370. • The Golden Horde falls in 1480.