The Mongols Unit 2 - the Post-Classical World Migration and Expansion Nomads live off their animals and follow their migratory patterns. HERDERS Also survived on hunting, horsemen Every male had to serve military Greatest strength in mobility Limited agriculturegeographical limitations. Animals: Sheep, Goat, Yaks, Oxen Live in Yurts 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 temperate Forced to trade or expand for resources Temujin (Genghis Khan) united Mongols (Chinggis) Genghis Khan Organized Military Resources vs. Tatars and Mongol tribes against the Tartars 1206 CE: Khuriltai (an assembly of the Mongol nobility) Give title Chinngis Khan Khan of All Between the Oceans Borrowed Turk script; 1 st 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 withdraw Hit-and-run raids- hit town etc then run and outride sedentary cultures, hide Compound bow: skilled at shooting it while riding (range 350 ft, opponents only 250 ft) Mongol Invasions before 1259 Legacy of Ghengis Khan Religious Tolerance 1st Mongolian Script Support for trade and crafts Legal 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 Division of the Empire: Area I Khublai Khan: Chinggis Khans grandson: consolidated Mongol rule in China Destroyed Song Dynasty in 1279 Area #2: The Golden Horde Overran Russia in 1237 Moved into Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, and East Germany Ruled Russia but kept large number local rulers intact Mostly, people were Christian but Mongols were Muslim Encouraged conversion but not force Controlled area until 15th century Chaghadai Khanate: Area #3 Central Asia This area will be in constant conflict with area #1-China under Kublai Khan Persia: Area # 4 West Asia; Arab Area Khubilai Khan's brother Hulegu, destroyed the Abbasid Dynasty by occupying the city of Baghdad Employed local bureaucrats Converted to Islam Not support agriculture, but support trade Local 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 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 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 Administration Supported/Accepted Islam, and Christianitypromoted 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 Chinesedisdain for Confucianism. Noted tolerance for traditions and religions. YUAN CHINA Gender Roles Property Rights; Control Household Freedom to move around town Refuse to accept footbinding Individual accounts of women going to war, choosing their own mates, riding in hunts Chabi- 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 Mongolia" 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 Sucessful conquers but poor administrators Collapse of the Ilkhanate in Persia Excessive spending Leadership struggle Collapse of Yuan Dynasty- by peasant Zhu Yuanxhang which created Ming dynasty Depopulation/labor shortage Resurgence of Chinese By 1350, most of territory reconquered by other armies