AP World DBQ 1

Historical Contextualization

Before the rise of the Mongols, Eurasia was divided into isolated regions—China under the Song dynasty, Islamic Persia, and fragmented European states. Genghis Khan’s unification of the Mongol tribes in 1206 launched a series of conquests that created the largest contiguous empire in world history. These invasions reshaped Eurasia through massive destruction but also connected trade, communication, and culture on an unprecedented scale.

Body 1 Topic

The Mongols’ rise to power relied on extreme violence and widespread destruction that devastated much of Eurasia.

Document 2

Reports millions of deaths across cities like Nishapur and Baghdad. This reflects the Mongols’ reliance on terror to control populations and punish resistance.
(HAPP: As a Persian historian, Juvayni may exaggerate death tolls to emphasize Mongol brutality.)

Document 3

Describes the total annihilation of Nishapur, where even animals were slaughtered. This demonstrates the Mongols’ use of psychological warfare and their disregard for civilian life.

Document 5

Notes that Mongol policies in China reduced the population drastically—possibly a form of genocide. As a secondary source, it reinforces the idea that the Mongols’ military efficiency came at an enormous human cost.

Topic Sentence Body #2

Despite their destructiveness, the Mongols created conditions that fostered economic growth and cultural diffusion across Eurasia.

Document 6

Explains how Mongol rule connected caravan routes from China to Persia, stimulating trade and cultural exchange under the Pax Mongolica. Economic integration in Persia and China brought prosperity to artisans and merchants.

Document 7

Describes the Yam system of post horses that allowed communication to span thousands of miles quickly. This infrastructure helped maintain political stability and exchange of knowledge across the empire.
(HAPP: As a Venetian merchant and admirer of Mongol efficiency, Polo’s account emphasizes administrative organization over brutality.)

Document 8

Depicts Mongol religious tolerance under Mongke Khan, who welcomed debate among Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. This openness promoted cultural and intellectual exchange, showing how the Mongols valued diverse ideas.

Outside Evidence

The spread of technologies such as gunpowder, paper, and the compass to Europe through Mongol trade routes accelerated global innovation. The reopening of the Silk Roads under Mongol protection made long-distance trade safer than it had been since the fall of Rome.

Complexity

The Mongols’ empire illustrates the paradox of conquest: brutality often produces the conditions for growth. Like the later empires of the Ottomans or the British, Mongol dominance expanded trade networks and cultural connections, proving that even violent regimes can generate long-term global integration.