Mongol empires/Turkish conquests

Temujin

The unifier of the Mongols, later known as Genghis Khan.

Khanbiliq

Means 'city of the khan,' serving as the Mongol capital in northern China.

Mongol army

The most important institution of the Mongol state, especially the cavalry.

Central government

Chinggis Khan did not establish a central government for the lands he conquered; his empire was decentralized.

Yuan dynasty

The dynasty created by Khubilai Khan, which ruled China after conquering the Song dynasty.

The Golden Horde

The Mongol khanate that dominated Russia.

Khubilai Khan

A grandson of Chinggis Khan who consolidated Mongol rule in China.

Naval Warfare

Khubilai Khan was not experienced in this area of fighting.

Invasions of Japan

The Mongols from the Yuan dynasty attempted to launch naval invasions of Japan but failed twice.

Confucian system

Khubilai Khan's most drastic societal change was replacing this system.

Pony express system

The Mongols utilized a system similar to this which improved communication across the empire.

Trade facilitation

The Mongols encouraged travel and communication to boost trade and diplomacy.

Safe trade

Securing safe trade was a high priority for the Mongols, leading to increased commerce.

Embassies

The Mongols had a large network of these to ensure communication with various areas.

Ulghurs

Important allies of the Mongols, providing clerical assistance and military support.

Yuan class structure

The Mongols were at the top of this structure, while Chinese occupied the bottom with restrictions on marriage.

Bubonic plague

A disease that caused a high death toll during the Yuan dynasty, known as The Black Death.

Typhoons

Natural disasters that caused Khubilai Khan to fail in naval attempts against Japan.

Pax Mongolica

A period of peace across Eurasia that facilitated trade.

Derision toward subjects

Mongol rulers in China looked down upon their subjects.

Resisted assimilation

The Mongols did not fully adopt Chinese culture.

Confucian education systems

The Mongols dismantled these systems during their rule.

Golden Horde overran Russia

Refers to the Mongol conquest that led to significant control over the region.

Hulegu

Khubilai Khan's brother who overthrew the Abbasid empire.

Commercial investments

Increased during the Mongol empires due to secure trade routes.

Diminished strength

The Bubonic plague greatly weakened the Mongol forces.

Tamerlane

A Turkish conqueror who built a central Asian empire in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

Samarkand

The capital built by Tamerlane.

Decentralized empire

Like Chinggis Khan, Tamerlane's empire was also very decentralized.

China in Tamerlane's conquests

Unlike Chinggis Khan, Tamerlane never invaded or controlled any part of China.

Kubilai Khan's demands

He demanded the Song emperor recognize him as the Son of Heaven in exchange for autonomy.

Song Dynasty

The dynasty in southern China that was conquered by Khubilai Khan.

Mongols' communication advances

The Mongols' systems improved communications significantly across their empire.

Cavalry importance

The cavalry was essential to the effectiveness of the Mongolian army.

Trade routes security

The Mongols' efforts to guarantee merchant safety improved trade conditions.

Bubonic plague's impact

The disease severely affected populations and weakened the Mongols during their reign.

Cultural assimilation opposition

Mongols actively resisted becoming assimilated into Chinese cultural practices.

Military strategy in Japan

Khubilai Khan's attempts at naval invasion highlight his military challenges.

Failure of invasions

Khubilai Khan's naval invasions against Japan ended in failure due to adverse weather.

Mongol army structure

Strategically focused on cavalry for military engagements across their domain.