Chapter 11Section 2

Key Terms

Khan Genghis Khan Pax Mongolia Kublai Kahn Marco Polo

Nomads and the Asia Steppe

Two Eurasia steppes

Land trade route connector

Home to nomadic people Plunder Loot Conquer their

neighbors

Geography of the Steppe

Western steppe central Asia

Home to the Hittites Eastern steppe Home to Huns, Turks

and Mongols Very little rain Temps from -57 to 96 Climate milder in

west

The Nomadic Way of Life

Pastoralists-herded domestic animals

Searching for food Followed seasonal

patterns Battles arose over

water rights Asian nomads

lived on horsback

The Nomadic Way of Life

• Depended on animals for– Food– Clothing– Housing

• Diet was meat and maer’s milk

• Clothing of skins and wool

• Lived in tents called yurts

Nomadic Way of Life

Clans- kinship groups that traveled together

Descended from a common ancestor

Khan- chief or leader of a clan

Steppes, Nomads and Settled Societies• Peaceful trade• Exchanged horses for

grain, metal and cloth• Prided themselves on

toughness• Took what they wanted

from towns people• Nomadic people

eventually become part of who they conquer

The Rise of the Mongols

• Roamed the eastern steppe

• Temujin unites the Mongols

• 1206 accepts name Genghis Khan- universal ruler

• 21 years led the Mongols to conquer much of Asia

The Rise of Mongols

• Muslims murder traders and Ambassadors of Khan.

• Launches campaign of terror across Central Asia

• Destroy one city after another

• 1225 Central Asia under Mongol control

Genghis the Conquer

Brilliant organizer Armies of 10,000 1,000 man brigades 100 man companies 10 man squads

Gifted strategists Tricks to confuse

the enemy Small group draw in

opposing army

Genghis the Conqueror

Cruelty as a weapon Terrifying into

surrender Don’t open gates, kill

whole population Most towns surrender

“In most countries that have not yet been overrun by them, everyone spends the night afraid they may appear there too”

The Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan died 1227

Successors conquered from China to Poland

Largest unified empire in history

The Khanates

Sons and grandsons continued conquests

Leveled Kiev, China, Korea, close to Venice

1250 halted westward expansion

The Khanates

1260 divided into four regions or khanates Khanate of the

great Khan (China, Mongolia)

Khanate of Chagatai Ikhanate (Persia) Khanate of the

Golden Horde (Russia)

The Mongols as Rulers

Populations of some cities were wiped out

Destroyed ancient irrigation systems

Tolerant in peace Adopted some of

existing cultures Some became

Muslims Led to further splits

The Mongol Peace

Pax Mongolica-1200-1300’s stability and law

Safe passage of trade caravans, travelers and missionaries

Trade between Europe and Asia increased

Bubonic plague possibly came from the Mongols

Kublai Khan Rules China

Tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects

Did not force Chinese to adopt Mongol life

Moved capitol from Mongolia to Beijing

Adopted Chinese ceremonies

Kublai Kahn Rules China

Mongols lived apart from the Chinese

Friendships were discouraged

Intermarriage was forbidden

Chines not allowed to have weapons or serve in the military

Different laws for Mongols and Chinese

Kublai Kahn Rules China

Distrusted Chinese and limited their power

Chinese officials serveda t the local level

Invited foreigners to hold government offices

Burdened Chinese with heavy taxes and laborers

Foreign Trade

Built enormous ships to improve trade

Welcomed foreign merchants

Offered traders special privileges

Merchants ands missionaries came to China

Marco Polo

Italain trader from Venice

Kublia Kahn liked him Sent Polo on

missions for 17 years Polo captured back in

Italy Told prisoners of his

adventures

Marco Polo

Described grand palaces

Walls covered in giold and silver

Chinese postal system

Use of paper money

Size and splendor of China

End of Yuan Dynasty

Kublai Kahn had invaded Southeast Asia

Suffered huge losses 900 Mongol ships

attacked Japan Most ships

destroyed in a storm Tried again with a

larger fleet

End of the Yuan Dynasty

Kamikaze- divine wind

Destroyed the fleet both times

Ecomony weak because of too much spending

After Khan’s death power struggle ensued