The Mongols

Mongols Groups of nomadic tribes in the northern steppe Each tribe had a Khan – tribal leader Some khans had alliances with other tribes Relied on animal husbandry, tribute, and trade for livelihood Very skilled horsemen and archers

Genghis (Chinggis) Khan Temujin Became “Genghis Khan” – universal ruler “Submit and live. Resist and die.” 1206-1227 CE Attacked China and conquered northern kingdoms Mongols controlled from Northern China to Europe Died in 1227 – empire is divided under four sons

Genghis Khan Map of Asia and Europe – c. 1200 Eve of Mongol Expansion

The Mongol Empire of Chinggis Khan

The Four Khanates of the Divided Monghol Empire

Four Mongol Regional Empires Khanate of the Great Khan – ruled from Karakorum, by Ogodei, and then Kubilai Khan Khanate of Jagadai – main leader was Timur Khanate of the Golden Horde – Southern Russia - main leader Batu Il-Khan – Parts of middle east and central asia – conquered Abbasid

Possible Reasons for Success Superior military technology and strategy Mongol bow could shoot arrows 30% farther Mounted warriors using the short bow Enlisted conquered peoples into the army to conquer other people Adaptability Nomadic traditions made them “multicultural”

Decline Too big Fragmentation along ethnic and religious lines Family in-fighting – fighting over succession Tendency to favor the culture of the people they conquered Invasion of Japan Overspending – over taxation – tax farming

The middle East – Il-khanates Defeated the Abbasid Caliphate Local Mongols converted to Islam Employed local bureaucrats for government Tried to expand, stopped by Mamluks in Egypt Impact Supported trade and scientific discovery

Russia: The Golden Horde Batu – conquered and ruled Russia Kept local rulers intact Heavy taxation, but collected by Russians Gave preference to Russian Orthodox Church Dissolved into smaller Khanates Impact Decline of Kiev and rise of Moscow as the center of Russian civilization Taxation left Russia in a depressed economy

China: The Yuan Dynasty Kublai Khan – defeated the Southern Song Created Chinese-style Dynasty Used establish bureaucracy and tax system Did not use Civil Service Exam Kept Mongols separate from Chinese Complex paper money system Silk Road is at peak of trade Connection with Europe strengthened Tax-farming Japanese invasion

Mongol Significance Pax mongolica – about 100 years of safe trade and contact between cultures under rule Silk Road Use of paper money Black Death – unification made spread of disease possible causing a pandemic