96-97 the Mongols
Chiraa-Khoor
- This is a song about an orphan herder fleeing a feudal lord (noyon) who envied his horse, Chiraa-Khoor.
- The herder fled from the upper Khemchik River in Bai-Taiga towards Tandi.
- He poetically names the natural sights along his journey.
Global View (1206-1279 C.E.)
- The map shows elevation and geographic regions including Europe, Arabian, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, China, and more.
Asian Steppes
- Dry, grassy plains in sub-tropic climates between tropics and polar regions.
- Semi-arid: receive some rain to support short grasses but not enough for tall trees.
Geographic Characteristics and Mongolian Lifestyle
- Mountainous areas
- Limited protection; challenging to travel over.
- Flat land (dry grassland) called the steppe
- Always on the move (nomadic).
- Pastoralist (herded animals).
- Clan-based.
- Not unified.
- Build collapsible, transportable homes (yurts).
- Not directly near water
- Parts of it are a desert plain
Mongols: Nomadic & Pastoral
Yurts
- Round tents covered with felt that were easily transported.
Mongol History and Genghis Khan
- Mongolians were small tribal societies, but their empire reached from Korea to Poland and from Vietnam to Syria.
- They built the largest land empire ever in history.
- They had few material possessions.
- 1167: Temudgin (Genghis Khan) born.
- His father was killed by a rival clan, leading to a difficult childhood.
Unifying the Mongol Tribes
- The Mongols were organized into tribes based on family connection.
- They fought and raided each other for plunder, women, and to avenge insults.
- No marriages were allowed between the tribes.
- The tribes were economically self-sufficient.
- Mongolia was a vast territory, approximately four times the size of France.
Conclusions (Actions taken to Unify Tribes)
- Established a capital at Karakorum.
- Made alliances with different Mongol tribes.
- Put competent & loyal allies in key positions instead of family.
- Organized his warriors into units of 10 without regard to kin.
- Military conscription: every male above the age of 14 was required to serve in the military.
- Developed a code of law to end clan divisions:
- Abolished inherited aristocratic titles.
- Forbade the selling and kidnapping of women; banned theft.