The Mongols in China

Daily Lesson and Discussion Notes: 4-3

Objectives:Explain how Genghis Khan

and his sons built the Mongol empire

Describe how the Mongols conquered China and traded with the rest of Asia

Objective 1:Explain how Genghis Khan

and his sons built the Mongol empire

I. The Mongols (pages 268-270)A. The Mongols lived in an area northnorth of China called MongoliaMongolia. They lived in tribestribes, or groups of related families. They were nomadicnomadic herders who grazed their animals on the steppessteppes, which are wide, rolling grassy plains. The Mongols were well known for their ability to ride horseshorses well and wage warwar.

B. At a meeting of Mongol leaders in 1206, a man named Temujin was elected Genghis KhanGenghis Khan, which means strong ruler. Genghis Khan built the Mongol Empire using a well-trained armyarmy to invade major civilizations. Mongol warriors were known for their crueltycruelty and use of terrorterror, or violent acts used to scare people.

C. After Genghis Khan’s death, the empire was divided among his fourfour sons and continued to expandexpand.

D. At the height of the Mongol rule, the empire stretched from the PacificPacific Ocean in the easteast to Eastern EuropeEurope in the westwest and from SiberiaSiberia in the northnorth to the HimalayaHimalaya in the southsouth.

E. The Mongols eventually brought peacepeace to the lands they conquered, which encouraged tradetrade. The Mongols taxedtaxed the traded goods and became wealthy.F. The

Mongols learned about gunpowdergunpowder and weaponsweapons from the Chinese people.

Objective 1: Explain how Genghis Khan and his sons built the Mongol empire

The Mongols were the most skilled The Mongols were the most skilled fighting force in the world. Genghis fighting force in the world. Genghis Khan began building his empire by Khan began building his empire by conquering other people on the steppes, conquering other people on the steppes, soon the Mongols were strong enough to soon the Mongols were strong enough to attack major civilizations. Genghis Khan attack major civilizations. Genghis Khan and his warriors became known for their and his warriors became known for their cruelty and use of terror.cruelty and use of terror.

His sons continued to expand the Mongol His sons continued to expand the Mongol empire until the empire reached from the empire until the empire reached from the Pacific Ocean in the east to Eastern Pacific Ocean in the east to Eastern Europe in the west – it became the Europe in the west – it became the largest land empire the world had ever largest land empire the world had ever known,known,

Objective 2:Describe how the Mongols

conquered China and traded with the rest of Asia

II. Mongol RuleRule in China (pages 272-273)

A. KublaiKublai Khan was Genghis Khan’s grandsongrandson. He became the Mongol emperor in 1260.

B. Kublai Khan moved the capital of the empire from KarakorumKarakorum in Mongolia to KhanbaliqKhanbaliq in China. Today, the city of BeijingBeijing stands where KhanbaliqKhanbaliq was.

C. Under Kublai Khan, the Mongols conquered ChinaChina and ended the SongSong dynasty. Kublai founded the YuanYuan dynasty, which ruled for about 100100 years.

D. The Mongols differed from the Chinese in their customscustoms, lawslaws, and languagelanguage. Though the Mongols were Buddhists, they toleratedtolerated other religions.

Non-taxed Mongols

Non-Chinese Collaborators (Civil Servants)

Northern Chinese

Southern Chinese

E. Marco PoloMarco Polo was a traveler from VeniceVenice who visited Kublai Khan. Kublai sent Polo on fact-fact-findingfinding adventures.

F. Because China belonged to the large Mongol empire, tradetrade in China increased. The Mongols conquered VietnamVietnam and northern KoreaKorea and then used Korean-made ships to invade JapanJapan.

Objective 2: Describe how the Mongols conquered China and traded with the rest of Asia Kublai Khan continued the Mongol Kublai Khan continued the Mongol conquest of China that his grandfather conquest of China that his grandfather (Genghis Khan) had begun. After (Genghis Khan) had begun. After conquering southern China, and putting conquering southern China, and putting an end to the Song dynasty, Kublai an end to the Song dynasty, Kublai Khan started the Yuan dynasty.Khan started the Yuan dynasty.

The Mongols ruled a large empire that The Mongols ruled a large empire that stretched from China to Eastern Europe stretched from China to Eastern Europe – as a result, China prospered from – as a result, China prospered from increased overland trade with other increased overland trade with other areas. The Mongols also continued to areas. The Mongols also continued to build ships and expanded seagoing build ships and expanded seagoing trade.trade.