Mongol Empire and Silk Road Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, trade dynamics, military tactics, and regional impacts of the Mongol Empire and the Silk Road.

Conquest

Taking over land by force.

Siege

Surrounding a city and cutting off its food supply.

Hashar

Prisoners forced to march and serve as human shields.

Tribute

Money or goods paid for peace.

House of Wisdom

A famous library in Baghdad.

Silk Road

A trade network connecting the East and West from China to Europe, trading goods, ideas, and diseases.

Merchant

A buyer and seller of goods.

Pax Mongolica

The Mongol Peace period.

Yam system

A Mongol postal station network used for fast messaging.

Paiza

An official travel pass or safe travel passport.

Feigned retreat

A war tactic where soldiers pretend to run to trick the enemy, then attack.

Census

An official population count used for fair tax assessment.

Yasa

A unified Mongol law system featuring strict laws against stealing.

Black Death

A plague spread along the Silk Road trade routes.

Psychological Terror

A Mongol tactic of spreading fear to stop fights early.

Siege Technology

Military weapons such as catapults used to break city walls.

Decimal System

The organizational structure of the Mongol army divided into units of 10s, 100s, and 1,000s.

Meritocracy

A promotional system where soldiers advanced by skill, not family background.

Genghis Khan

Mongol leader who invaded Central Asia in 1219.

Hulagu Khan

Mongol leader who invaded Baghdad and the Middle East in 1258.

Kublai Khan

Mongol leader who ruled Northern China during the Yuan Dynasty and built the capital in Beijing.

Batu Khan

Mongol leader of the Golden Horde who conquered Russia in Eastern Europe.