1. Chapter 14—The Mongols
The Last Great Nomadic Challenges: From Chinggis (Genghis) Khan to Timur

2. Periodization 1206—Mongol state founded
1215—Mongols attack N. China (win it in 1234)
—Russia/Islamic world invaded
S. China taken
1240—Russia taken (Mongols attack W. Europe)
1253—Mongols destroy Seljuk Turks
1260—Mongols lose to Mamluks in Egypt
—Invasion of Japan fails

3. Important People/Dates of Rule
Chinggis (Genghis) Khan (r )
Kublai Khan (r )
Timur-i Lang (r. 1360s-1405)

5. 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

6. The Mongol Empire of Chinggis Khan
Mongols resemble other nomadic groups we have studied
Tribe and clan make-up
Strong tribal leadership=bravery & diplomacy

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. Conquest: Mongol Empire Under Chinggis Khan

11. Life Under the Mongol Imperium & Chinggis Khan’s Death
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)
Karakorum= Mongol capital
Mongols proved to be astute & tolerant rulers
Administration built on Muslim and Chinese bureaucrats

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. Retreat from Europe
Christians hopeful that the Mongols would strike down the Muslims (legend of Prester John)
Europe was spared a full assault

16. 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

17. 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

18. Gender Roles/Foreign Influence
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

19. 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

20. 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)

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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