The Mongols

Who were the Mongols?

Nomadic horse-people from the eastern steppe of Asia that created the largest empire in the history of the world

What is a steppe?

A vast region of dry grasslands in Asia, harsh climates with resource scarcity, historic home of nomads who frequently attacked settled civilizations such as the Huns, Mongols, Turks

What was the nomadic way of life on the steppe?

Depended on animals for food, clothing, milk, tools, lived in Yurts, believed in a sky god that ruled the universe, nomads competed for resources, leading to constant warfare, alliances, or both

What was warfare like on the steppe?

Every man was an expert horseman, archer, and warrior, revolutionized warfare with the use of horse tactics

Who is Genghis Khan?

Mongol leader who became "World Emperor", united the clans of the steppe under his leadership, ruled with an iron fist - ruthless, he demanded absolute loyalty

Why were the Mongols so Successful on the Battlefield?

Mobility of horses, mongol bow, superior military organization, strategy, psychological terror, spread fear through mass slaughter

How did the Mongols treat conquered people?

Mongols demanded payment of tribute in return for peace, they permitted local leaders to govern, they showed religious tolerance, they established rule of law

What are the effects of the Mongol empire: Pax Mongolica?

Mongols guaranteed safe passage for traders, missionaries, and travelers such as Marco Polo, trade flourished, silk, asian artistic designs more westward, Mongols gain incredible wealth taxing the trade, peaceful travel across Asia, cultural exchanges, exchange of ideas, medical, mathematics, finance, engineering knowledge flows between China and Middle East, printing, gunpowder transmitted from China to Europe, spread of bubonic plague

Who was Marco Polo?

Venetian traveler who traveled to China and wrote about his experience there

What happened to the Mongol Empire after Genghis Khan?

After the death of Genghis Khan the Mongol Empire was divided up into four khanates and convinced to expand, each region was ruled by a descendent of Genghis

What was the Mongol Empire at its Peak?

China conquered, Yuan Dynasty established, Russia conquered ruled by the Golden Horde Khanate, Middle East conquered, Baghdad destroyed in 1258, Abbasid Caliphate de-throned

What are Genghis Khans most important legacies?

Tolerance, Written Language, Trade and Crafts, and Legal Codes

How did the Mongols contribute to Foreign Contacts and Exchanges?

Allowed for foreign peoples to travel safely to areas such as Asia, accepted foreigners and their products

How did the Mongols contribute to the Pax Mongolica?

Guaranteed security and safety of travelers, allowed missionaries and traders to pass freely

How did the Mongols contribute to Support of Trade?

Had a positive attitude to merchants and commerce, increased the amount of paper money in circulation in China

How did the Mongols contribute to Religious Tolerance?

Tolerated all religions but did not convert to other religions

What important Russian trade city did the Mongols destroy in 1240?

Kiev, so many people were slaughtered that "no eye remained to weep"

How long did the Mongols rule over Russia?

200 years, they established their capitol in Sarai which was rich grasslands, established the Golden Horde, led by Batu (Genghis Khan's grandson)

What were the role of Russian Princes under Mongol rule?

Russian Princes often aided the Mongols in return for status and power, they collected taxes for the Mongols, they suppressed revolts, they took censuses

What were the role of Orthodox Church under Mongol rule?

Acted as a mediator between the Mongols and the local Russian leaders, the Mongols granted the church special privileges in return

In what other ways did the Mongols effect Russia?

Population decline due to Mongol attacks, economic poverty, oppressive taxation, starved Russia of metal money

What is the Mongol Yoke?

The Mongols held Russia's progress because it was isolated from Western Europe, Russia missed out on the achievements of the late Middle Ages/Renaissance

Who are the Turks?

Nomads from Central Asia who speak the Turkic language, appear in the Middle East in 10th Century, most converted to Islam

What were the Turks known for?

Their fighting skills, the Abbasids bought Seljuk slaves called malmeluks and turned them into body guards, they captured Baghdad in 1051 and ruled the Abbasid Empire, the caliph remained the spiritual leader of the empire

How did the Mongols administer the empire?

The Mongols did not know how to manage a complex society, they employed local bureaucrats to collect taxes and maintain order, the Mongols converted to Islam in 1295

How did the Mongols effect the economy?

Promoted Trade, Tax Farmed, devastated agriculture, introduced paper money which was rejected by the people, leads to economic depression, high taxes lead to resentment

Who is Kublai Khan?

Grandson of Genghis Khan, assumed the title of Great Khan in 1260, ruled the entire Mongol Empire in theory

What is the Yuan Dynasty?

New dynasty in China founded by Kublai Khan, lasted until 1368, united China for the first time in 300 years

Why was the Yuan dynasty important?

United China for the first time in 300 years, opened China to greater foreign contracts and trade, made few changes to the system of government

What is Beijing? What did Kublai Khan do there?

Place of the capitol during Kublai's rule, increased his prestige, by doing this Kublai showed how he intended to make his mark on the emperor of China

In what ways was Kublai Khan "not a typical Mongol"?

He liked living in a luxurious manner, he abandoned the Mongolian steppe, did not dislike the settled life

Describe the Mongols attempt to conquer Japan

In 1274 and 1266 the Great Khan sent huge fleets against Japan, forced Koreans to build, sail, and provide provisions for the boats, Japanese forces forced the fleets back, a second fleet with 150,000 Mongol, Chinese, and Korean warriors, a typhoon destroyed the fleet

How did the Mongols rule China?

The Mongols let other leaders from China rule but kept themselves to high positions

How did the Mongols unify China?

The Great Khan destroyed regional rulers in southern China and encouraged restoration of Chinese government and society

Who was given leadership roles in the government?

The Mongols kept Chinese government leaders at lower positions to run the local government but kept high-ranking positions to themselves

How did Kublai Khan effect Chinese economy?

Traders were safe across Asia and created foreign contracts were established and unique trade items such as porcelain and silk

What cultural and scientific exchanges occurred under the Yuan?

Several missionaries were granted free passage and allowed to spread their religions to China printing, gunpowder, the compass, paper currency, and playing cards

What factors led to the decline and fall of the Yuan?

The death of Kublai Khan in 1294, members argued over right-to-rule, rebellions, official corruption, economic problems, disease, flood, famine, the Mongols were overthrown from China in 1368.

Did Kublai Khan support the arts?

Yes