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Unit 2 - The Post-Classical World
The Mongols: The Terror of
Civilization and the Maker of Worlds
What are you expected to Know?-How do they live/survive?-Who was Chinggis Khan?-Why was their military so successful?-What happened to the Empire after Chinggis’ death?-Who was Kublai Khan?-How did Kublai Khan impact China?-What is the Pax Mongolica?-Why did the Mongols finally Decline?-Who was Timur/Tamerlane?
Migration and Expansion Nomads live off their animals and follow their
migratory patterns. HERDERSAlso survived on hunting, horsemenEvery male 15-70 had to serve militaryGreatest strength in mobilityLimited agriculture—geographical limitations. Animals: Sheep, Goat, Yaks, OxenLive in YurtsSome convert to Buddhism, Islam Often in conflict with Tatars
Turkish, central/west Asia, Russia
Rise of Mongols
Competition for resources kept them under constant threat of violence Pastureland began to disappear b/c drop in temperature
Forced to trade or ‘expand’ for resourcesTemujin (Genghis Khan) united Mongols
(Chinggis) Genghis Khan
Organized Military Resources vs. Tatars Mongol tribes against the Tatars 1206 CE: Khuriltai (an assembly of the Mongol nobility)
Give title “Chinngis Khan” Khan of All Between the Oceans
Borrowed Turk script; 1st written works, use to write laws Reforms of the religion, laws and politics of the newly
united people. Greater Mongolia included the Mongolian Plateau and
the Gobi Desert.
He organized his people into units of ten, a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand, and the head of a unit of ten thousand would have a strong personal relationship with Chinggis himself.
That kind of loyalty was to be extremely important in Chinggis's rise to power and in his ability to maintain authority over all the various segments of his domain.
Organization
Warfare--- Inventive
Genghis Khan: “Submit and live, Resist and die”
Horses were fast and flexible Could ride for days
Use biological warfare (plague ridden bodies)Fake out- pretend to withdrawHit-and-run raids- hit town etc then run and
outride sedentary cultures, hideCompound bow: skilled at shooting it while
riding (range 350 ft, opponents only 250 ft)
Mongol Invasions before 1259
Legacy of Genghis Khan Religious Tolerance1st Mongolian ScriptSupport for trade and craftsLegal Code specific to the Mongols'
pastoral-nomadic way of life According to his wishes, upon death his
territory was divided between his sons
Mongol States after 1259
1
2
3
4
Division of the Empire: Area I
China – Kublai Khan Khublai Khan: Chinggis Khan’s
grandson: consolidated Mongol rule in China
Destroyed Song Dynasty in 1279
Area #2: The Golden Horde
Russia & Europe - Batu Overran Russia in 1237 Moved into Eastern Europe: Poland,
Hungary, and East Germany Ruled Russia but kept large number local
rulers intactMostly, people were Christian but Mongols
were Muslim Encouraged conversion but not force
Controlled area until 15th century
Central Asia: Ruled by Chaghadai
Area #3 Central Asia This area will be in constant conflict with
area #1-China under Kublai Khan
Persia: Ruled by Hulegu Area # 4
West Asia; Arab AreaKhubilai Khan's brother Hulegu, destroyed the
Abbasid Dynasty by occupying the city of Baghdad Employed local bureaucratsConverted to IslamNot support agriculture, but support tradeLocal rulers allowed to continue as long as
Delivered tax revenue Maintained order
Prevented further invasions by Mamluks in Egypt (Saladin)
Kublai Khan
Grandson of Genghis Khan Very cosmopolitan- allow many artisans etc
visit Attacked Song dynasty in China 1260s Still a few holdouts: Confucian bureaucrats
and Chinese generals Established Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)
Overall, held Chinese in contempt Chinese-style dynasty Fixed and regular tax payment system Strong, centralized government Foreigners, not Chinese, in civil service Chinese subjected to different laws Four-caste system
YUAN CHINA
Rule of China
Mongols kept nomadic way of life and turned vast tracks of land they captured into pastures
Amnesty to Chinese who fought against Mongols Tax System; Local AdministrationSupported/Accepted Islam, and Christianity…
promoted Buddhism. Condemned Daoism, Confucianism
Unsuccessful in his conquest of Vietnam, Burma, and Japan.
YUAN CHINA
Divisions
Outlawed intermarriage between Mongols and Chinese
Forbade Chinese from learning Mongol language
Brought foreigners into govern, lack of confidence in Chinese…disdain for Confucianism.
Noted tolerance for traditions and religions.
YUAN CHINA
Gender Roles
Property Rights; Control HouseholdFreedom to move around townRefuse to accept footbindingIndividual accounts of women going to war,
choosing their own mates, riding in huntsChabi- wife of Kubilai Khan
Important advisor Desired to accept Chinese culture without being
overwhelmed by it Spread Buddhism in high circles of government Convinced husband not to treat Chinese harshly
Trade and Commerce
Promote Silk Roads; Guarantee Liberty and Social Standing for Merchants Countered Chinese ideas of Traders
Postal system: Connect Beijing to Vienna w/ communication system of horse relays
Unified system of paper money; conversion system
Diplomatic missions with Europe
YUAN CHINA
"Pax Mongolica"
Peak of Mongolian rule when large areas of Europe and Asia under their rule
Allowed relatively safe trade and contacts between different cultures
Eliminated tariffs, taxes on imports/exports
Decline of the Mongols Successful conquers but poor administratorsExcessive spending Leadership strugglesCollapse of Yuan Dynasty- by peasant
Yuanxhang which created Ming dynasty14thc. Plague greatly weakened NomadsDepopulation/labor shortage Resurgence of Chinese By 1350, most of territory reconquered by other
armies; by early 1400s, most dissipated into local cultures
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