Aim: Nomadic Empires (Turks/Mongols) and Eurasian Integration

Geography Overview Central Asian Steppe Oases Lack of Arable Land  Focus on Animal Herding Flat land = Horseback Riding and Travel is Very Easy

Nomadic Influence Clan Organization Animal Herders Lack of craftspeople/artisans Social Fluidity Women play a greater role Shamanism

The Yurt

Economy Women had economic role Iron was important Temujin (Genghis Khan’s real name) means blacksmith Mongols traded wool, leather and horses for items as silk, cotton, grains etc

Genghis Khan 1206 –Khagan (Supreme Ruler) Unites all Mongols Breaks down clan loyalties (why?) Brilliant Organizer Strategist Harsh and Cruel Ruler CONQUEROR NOT ADMINISTRATOR

Military Might Cavalry Skills: Bow and Arrow Speed in Attack/Retreat Military Values Organization Ferocity – Surrender or EVERYONE dies Weapons Flaming Arrows Gunpowder Seige Weapons

TRADE MONGOL GOLDEN AGE = PAX MONGOLIA Free and Open Trade Mongols controlled trade routes Unusual alliances occurred Disease is spread Great pandemic 1347-1352 “Enjoyed such a peace that a man might have journeyed from the land of the sunrise to the land of the sunset with a golden platter upon his head without suffering the least violence from anyone.”

http://www.woodlandyurts.co.uk/Yurt_Facts/Build_Your_Own.html

Treatment of Conquered People Demanded slavish obedience and tribute Open to new ideas/cultures Religious Tolerance (Shamanistic) New Capital – Karakorum Confucian Scholars Muslim Engineers Taoist Holy Men

Conquest SUCCESS China Persia Russia Central Asia FAILURE JAPAN SE ASIA W. EUROPE EGYPT

Mongol Court Historian “In retribution for every hair on Mongol heads, it seemed that a hundred thousand heads would roll in the dust” Mongol Court Historian

Re-Organization 4 Khanates After the death of Genghis Khan… Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia/China) Khanate of Chagatia (C. Asia) Ilkhanate/Khanate of the Ilkhans (Persia) Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia)

Russian Occupation 1240 Attacked and devastated Kiev “No eye remained to weep” 200 Years of Mongol Rule Isolated Russia from W. Europe Russians followed their own customs + Unified Russia + Ivan I rose to power

Mongols in China Kublai Khan establishes rule in China Yuan Dynasty Opened China to Foreign Trade and Contact Built roads to connect to Persia and India Tolerated Chinese Culture Left Chinese Government in Tact No Chinese in important positions

Impact of Mongol Rule Cultural Diffusion in China Eurasian Trade Marco Polo Italian Merchant Visits China and Stays Creates 1st History of China