Chapter 14—The Mongols

The Last Great Nomadic Challenges: From Chinggis

(Genghis) Khan to Timur

Periodization

1206—Mongol state founded 1215—Mongols attack N. China (win it in 1234) 1219-1223—Russia/Islamic world invaded 1235-1279---S. China taken 1240—Russia taken (Mongols attack W.

Europe) 1253—Mongols destroy Seljuk Turks 1260—Mongols lose to Mamluks in Egypt 1274-1280—Invasion of Japan fails

Important People/Dates of Rule

Chinggis (Genghis) Khan (r. 1206-1227) Kublai Khan (r. 1260-1294) Timur-i Lang (r. 1360s-1405)

Introduction

Mongols challenge our notions of “barbarians” and “civilized” societies

Capable of savage violence, their rule also crates a new level of cross-cultural exchange

Pax Mongolia—Era of Mongol Peace leads to revitalized trade, commerce and urban life along Silk Road

The Mongol Empire of Chinggis Khan

Mongols resemble other nomadic groups we have studied

Tribe and clan make-up

Strong tribal leadership=bravery & diplomacy

The Early Career of Chinggis Khan

Born Temujin, he became leader after his father’s assassination

Conquers foes, which leads to alliances and the election at a kuriltai of Temujin to the role of khagan.

Building the Mongol War Machine

Natural warriors trained from youth

Lifestyle stressed mobility, bravery, skill, and love of combat

Basis of fighting structure was the tumen

Used cavalry in combination with scouts, a messenger force and mapmaking unit

Experimented with new weapons

Conquest: Mongol Empire Under Chinggis Khan

From NW China to North China (Jin) to W Asia (Kara Khitai) and on to Middle East.

Adapted to obstacles (cities)

Resistance = Retribution

Conquest: Mongol Empire Under Chinggis Khan

Life Under the Mongol Imperium & Chinggis Khan’s Death

Karakorum= Mongol capital

Mongols proved to be astute & tolerant rulers

Administration built on Muslim and Chinese bureaucrats

Creates an era of peace (Pax Mongolia) which stimulates trade, cultural exchange and artistic creativity.

Chinggis dies trying to conquer all of China—land divided amongst sons (son Ogedai named khan)

The Mongol Drive to the West

Splits into four khanates (see map pg 311)

Golden Horde Empire—Russia

Ilkhan Empire—Persia

Djagatai (Chaghatai) Empire– Central Asia

Empire of Kublai Khan (Yuan Dynasty)—China & parts of South/SE Asia

Russia in Bondage

Mongols carry out only successful winter invasion in Russian history (“no eye remained to weep for the dead”)

Kiev destroyed & all Russian princes become vassals of Batu

Peasants suffer; cities gain

Orthodox Church remains powerful & wealthy; enables princes of Moscow to defeat Golden Horde in 1380

QUESTION SLIDE

In what ways does the rule of the Golden Horde mark a turning point in Russian history?

Retreat from Europe

Christians hopeful that the Mongols would strike down the Muslims (legend of Prester John)

Europe was spared a full assault

Mongol Assault on Islamic Heartland

Ilkhan Khanate (led by Hulegu) ends Abbasid dynasty in 1258 and destroys Baghdad

Mamluks of Egypt defeat the Mongols in 1260

The Mongols in China (Yuan Dynasty)

Led by Kublai Khan Passed laws to separate

Chinese & Mongols Kublai Khan fascinated

by Chinese culture New social hierarchy—

Mongols, Asian nomads & Muslim allies, ethnic Chinese and other minority peoples

Gender Roles/Foreign Influence

Gender Roles Mongol women

refused to adopt Chinese ways

Mongol women had more freedom

(ex—Chabi)

Foreign Influence Yuan court attracted

many scholars and artists

Kublai Khan welcomed thinkers, artist, travelers and emissaries

Social Policies/Scholar-Gentry

Laws kept Mongols separate; ethnic Chinese never accepted Mongol rule

Under Mongol rule: Artisans/merchants gain power; scholar-gentry loses it Substantial navy develops Commerce booms, as does urbanization Popular entertainment grows (upsets conservative

Confucianists) Peasants benefit from land-reform, granary systems,

lower taxes and elementary education

The Fall of the House of Yuan Warning signs—failed

invasion of Japan, rebellion of Song loyalists, defeats in Vietnam & Java, death of Kublai Khan

Muslim/Chinese bureaucratic corruption grows

Plotting grows (White Lotus Society)

1368—Yuan Dynasty will give way to the Ming dynasty under Ju Yuanzhang—(right)

The Brief Ride of Timur-i Lang

A complex figure—a ruthless conqueror who spared the lives of artisans and learned men to further his own kingdom

Global Connections

Mongols symbolize the return of nomadic invasions in the post classical period

Destruction is countered by their contributions to new techniques/weapons of war

Facilitate trade and cross cultural contact to a level that hadn't been seen before

Many convinced their expansion shaped Eurasian history by unintentionally spreading the Black Plague

Bt the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

Analyze the impact that the Mongols had on Europe and Asia

Compare and contrast different Mongol leaders

Compare and contrast the effects of Mongol rule in the four different khanates