AP World Unit 2 Topic 2 Noteguide Answer Key

The Birth of Chinggis Khan

• Temujin, later known as Chinggis Khan, was born into the Mongol culture around the Gobi Desert.

• Nomadic Lifestyle: The Mongols were nomads, moving seasonally as part of their way of life.

• Leadership and Alliances: Temujin proved to be a strong leader and skillfully allied with powerful factions.

• In 1206, after several military victories, he unified the Mongol groups and took the title of Chinggis Khan.

Rise of the Mongol Empire

• Expansion: Chinggis Khan began military conquests attacking Northern China, Central Asia, and Southern Russia.

• Post-Chinggis Expansion: After Chinggis Khan’s death in 1227, his sons continued to expand the empire until its peak in 1279.

• Military Organization: The Mongols organized their military into units of 10,000, 1,000, 100, and 10 for efficient command.

• Superior Weaponry and Skills: Their main weapon was a larger composite bow which allowed them to shoot from a distance. They were also skilled horse riders.

• Strategic Opportunity: The Mongols capitalized on the weakening of the Song Dynasty and other large empires like the Abbasid Empire.

• Reputation for Brutality: Their reputation for massacring settlements often led to cities surrendering without resistance.

The Pax Mongolica

• Relative Peace under Mongol Rule: Despite their violent conquests, the Mongols established a period of peace, referred to as the Pax Mongolica, lasting about a century.

Administrative Structure of the Empire

• After Chinggis Khan, his grandsons divided the empire into military regions.

• Cultural Adaptation: Mongol rulers often adopted local cultural practices. For instance, Kublai Khan ruled China under the newly established Yuan Dynasty and styled himself as a Confucian ruler.

Economic Impact of Mongol Rule

• Silk Roads: The Mongols unified the Silk Roads under their control, improving safety and facilitating trade.

• Infrastructure Development: Mongol rulers built bridges and roads to enhance trade logistics.

• Increased Trade and Cooperation: The Pax Mongolica led to increased trade and cooperation across Eurasia through organized communication channels.

Cultural and Technological Transfers

• Appreciation for Scholars: The Mongols valued intellectuals and skilled artisans, often sparing them during conquests.

• Cultural Exchange: They facilitated the transfer of knowledge from Ancient Greece and Islamic scholars to Western societies.

• Language Development: Chinggis Khan adopted the Uyghur script, leading to the establishment of a written Mongolian language.

Decline of the Mongol Empire

• Despite their vast empire, the Mongols declined relatively quickly post-conquest as local populations sought to establish their own rulers and unify culturally, setting the stage for new world systems.