1. Mongol Invasions
Learning Goal 3: Describe the changes that occurred in Russia, China, and the Islamic world because of the Mongol invasions and explain why this was a historical turning point in history. (1C,4K)

2. Causes of Mongol Invasions
Possible environmental factors caused less and shorter grass on the steppe forcing Mongols to trade and raid settled societies
Leader Genghis Khan (formally Temujin) unifies Mongols
Soldiers mobility and skillful tactics as warriors led to huge conquests

3. Effects of Mongol Invasions
Unified a territory across Eurasia and established a Pax Mongolian where Silk Road trade reached it height
1215 took Beijing, making it the first time China was ruled by a foreign power, ended the civil service exams, but staffed the bureaucracy
Obliterated the Muslim heartlands and converted to Islam- end of the Muslim caliphate

4. More Effects…
Made Russia a vassal state where tribute was collected by Russian bureaucrats leading the expansion of serfdom
Facilitate Europeans learning about the advances of the Asians especially the Chinese, yet the Mongols made no advances themselves and stifled cultural growth
Allowed for religious toleration and did not impose Mongol culture, yet culture and idea spread across the vast Mongol territory
India stayed protected from Mongol invasions until the late 4th century

5. What were the changes resulting from the Mongol invasions of Russia, China, and the Islamic world?
Mongol invasions of China
Mongol invasion of Islamic world

6. Mongol invasions of Russia
Mongols control Russia
Local leaders still kept
Peasants paid heavy taxes
Collected by Russia bureaucrats who took their cut
Russia became a vassal state facilitating the expansion of serfdom and a lack of political unity
Lacking unity and cultural development, Russia remained backward at the same time Europe was growing culturally

7. Mongol invasions of China
1215 took Beijing
1279 overthrew the Song Dynasty
First time China ruled by a foreign power
Civil service exams were ended
Bureaucracy staffed by foreigners
Chinese had different laws and separated from Mongols
Able to maintain cultural identity
Beijing was connected to Vienna via horse relay stations
Mongols not directly involved in trade
Merchants welcomed into court = trade flourishes

8. Mongol invasion of Islamic world
1258 Abbasid Caliphate was defeated
End of Muslim political unity
Local bureaucrats were employed
Rulers can stay in power as long as they paid taxes
Many Mongols converted to Islam by 1295 and often Mongol culture mixed with local cultures
Mongols first and only defeat was at the hands of the Mamluks in 1260 in Egypt
Muslim Dehli Sultanate in Northern India held off the initial Mongol invasions, but was later invaded in 1398 by Mongol warlord Timur who ruled for a short time

9. Writing Assignment
What were the changes resulting from the Mongol invasions of Russia, China, and the Islamic world?