The Mongol Empire

China and the Mongols The most difficult conquest for the Mongols (70 years) Reunite China Wanted to extract wealth from China Ended up accommodating Chinese culture and gov’t. Began the Yuan Dynasty Moved the capital to Beijing

Khubilai Khan tries to invade Japan, Vietnam, and Java – ALL FAIL

By 1368 the Mongols were forced out of China The GOOD: Khubilai Khan (1271 – 1294) improved roads, lowered some taxes, supported peasant agriculture Used Confucian rituals Religiously tolerant (all Mongols were) The BAD: Did not become “Chinese” Relied on Muslims to help rule Discriminated against the Chinese Forbade intermarrying By 1368 the Mongols were forced out of China End of the Yuan Dynasty

Persia and the Mongols The Mongols won quickly and brutally Baghdad in 1258 – 200,000 killed Mongol rule was a disaster for Persia Heavy taxes Migration of Mongol animal herds into the area destroyed crops/land Irrigation networks neglected = fertile lands wasted

Mongols in Persia transformed themselves : Used the Persian system of gov’t BECAME MUSLIM Learned Persian and settled into agriculture Mongol dynasty fell in 1330, they stayed and became part of Persian society.

Russia and the Mongols They suffered the worst Large scale slaughters artisans/women – deported into slavery From the Mongol point of view Russia: Not on good trade routes Primitive economy Not worth it to occupy Russia Never became Russian or even tried

The Mongol Empire as a Eurasian Network

Toward a World Economy Mongols promoted trade for taxes Way to get money from more developed civilizations Mongols brought stability to trade routes Brought China and Europe closer together China was key to both the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean Trade

Cultural Exchange Chinese technology moves west Gunpowder, printing, compass, high-temperature furnaces Europeans gained the most from the Mongol cultural exchanges Less advanced than Middle East/China Got the benefits of the Mongol exchange without the consequences (death, destruction, etc.)

The Plague: A Eurasian Pandemic A.K.A. the Black Death Starts in Central Asia in the early 14th century In China by 1331 and Western Europe by 1347 ½ of Europe's population died during the initial outbreak (1348 – 1350) 1/3 of the Middle East's population

Impact of the Plague Created labor shortages in Europe Survivors want higher wages = peasant revolts Greater interest in technology Fostered future growth By 1350 the Silk Road is pretty much gone Encouraged Europeans to take to the sea for trade Become the DOMINANT force for the next 500 years

On the back of a sheet in your notebook Answer the following questions using the handout Codega just gave you: What was the advantage for the Mongol rulers of promoting the movement and exchange of goods, peoples, and ideas within and beyond their empire? How did they do the promoting? Identify those consequences of the Mongol conquest that you consider historically significant, and explain the reasons for your choices. Which consequences do you consider most significant? Why?