Post Classical Age: 1200-1450

Reorganization of the Post Classical WorldReorganization of the Post Classical WorldContinuity and ChangeContinuity and Change

European Interests turned outward

Organization, Consolidationand Migration of Eurasian Steppe people

The Mongol ImpactThe Mongol Impact

Mongol OriginsLinguistic group (not Indo-European or Turkish)Of the Eurasian Steppe

Pastoralist (sheep, goats, yaks, camel)

Domestication of Horse

Semi-wild, stocky, prehistoric-like

Tribes & kin-related clans -Internal fighting

‘Strongmen’ (KHAN) could unite clans & tribes

Most mobile of pre-industrial era

Yurt (housing)

Trade with sedentary farmers – grain, textiles, tea

Rise to PowerRise to Power

Ghinggis Khan (supreme ruler)

War Machine…Weapons (short bows, lances, hatchets)CavalryScouting partiesMessengers (Yam)Spy networks

Ghinggis Khan captures Chinese City

Mongolian Rule: Ghinggis Khan’s Legacy

Standardization of law

Mongolian script developed

Open to new ideas

Peaceful diversity

Tolerant rulers

Religious toleration

Keen interest in the arts

Artistic creativity given free expression

Inspired by conquered people

Mongolian Script

•

Mongol Conquests•Ghinngis , 3 sons & grandson

– campaigns and conquests•South into China•West into Muslim & Christian territories

•Four Khanates were created– China (Yuan Dynasty)– Russia (Golden Horde)– West Asia (2)

How should the Mongols be interpreted in the development of World History?

To what extent did the Mongolsleave a legacy on the conquered region?

How did Mongols bring about an end to regional rule in China, Russia and the Near East?

How were the subject people treated with respect to cultural, economic and political institutions?

To what extent did the Mongols assimilate into the society of the people they conquered?

Russia China

West Asia – Middle East1258 Sack of Baghdad by Hulegu

Conquered Seljuk Turks (Predominate Sultanate of Muslim World) Murdered Caliph & family Devastated focal points of Muslim World

Continued splintering of the Muslim

World

Osman of the Turks emerged from the power struggle OTTOMANS -Sack of Constantinople in 1453

Timur (Tamerlane)Successors (Babur) form MUGHAL Empire on India 1526

Tamerlane’s loss of Persian lands gave rise to Shi’ite SAFAVIDSMuslim World introduced to GunpowderMuslim World introduced to GunpowderTrade & Focus of interest remained EastTrade & Focus of interest remained East

Yuan DynastyChina under the Mongols…

Yuan Golden Age…

Chinese Resistance

Chinese Scholars resisted challenges to Chinese traditions

After Kublai Khan’s death - Decline

Generous Patronage of the arts

Popular culture – theatre

Bolstered artisan & merchant classes

China: Yuan DynastyKublai Khan (grandson of Ghinggis Khan)1271 Yuan Dynasty- claimed Mandate

Maintained distinction between Chinese & MongolsNo intermarriageStrict Hierarchy -No upper level jobs for ethnic ChineseCivil Service- with quotas

Naval Expansion Failed invasion

of JapanTemporary occupation of Vietnam

Decline of Yuan Re-establishment of Chinese

leadershipMINGMING

Dynasty

Miniature from the Book "The Travels of Marco Polo"

“The palace itself has a very high roof. Inside, the walls of the halls and chambers are all covered with gold and silver and decorated with pictures of dragons and birds and horsemen and various breeds or beasts and scenes of battle. The ceiling is similarly adorned, so that there is nothing to be seen anywhere but gold and pictures. The hall is so vast and so wide that a meal might well be served there for more than 6,000 men.”

Opened China to foreign influence

Knowledge of Muslim World (medicine, cartography, celestial observation)

Marco Polo’s visit

Impact :VassalageTrade & ties to EastMoscow (seat of power Princes of Muscovy)

Wealth, political centralization, religious center of power

Isolated from West

• Numerous small kingdoms• 1236 Batu (grandson of Ghinggis Khan)

and the Golden Horde invade

Russia: The Golden Horde

No eye remained to weep for the deadCities looted and destroyedOnly successful winter assault on RussiaAssault reached Eastern Europe – Poland

Ivan III tearing the Khan's demand into pieces

Long Term ImpactLong Term ImpactLess political, more economic and social…

Pax MongolicaMerchant activity and trade encouraged

The plague is estimated to have killed 25 million people in China and India before reaching Europe

Mongols: Religion & Gender

Religious TolerationBuddhism, Confucianism, Daoism ,Islam

Adapted & adopted (in some cases) beliefs and religions of area conquered

Gender Roles Mongol women had freedoms unknown to

Chinese and other sedentary women in conquered areas

Overtime, Chinese restrictions made their way into Mongol traditions

Few subjects provoke more heated debate than the impact of the Mongols.

Were they primarily a destructive force, leaving a swath of ashes and barren earth? Or did they create conditions for the flourishing of cities, trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia?

Consider the bias of most of our sources…

Sedentary peoples whom the nomadic Mongols had conquered wrote most narratives about the Mongol invasion and rule. The traumas of war and the burdens of occupation by a culturally alien people naturally loom large in such accounts. Even those who arguably benefited by working for the Mongols were unable to overcome their dislike for their masters, a dislike often rooted in cultural prejudice. As a result, the term Mongol throughout history has conjured images of destruction and brutality.

What is your Interpretation of the

Mongols?Draft a thesis…