The Mongols

Turkish empires and their neighbors about 1210 C.E

The Mongol empires about 1300 C.E.

Tamerlane's empire about 1405 C.E..

Rise of the Mongols “Nomadism” in Central Asia Conquests Overland trade and the plague Special Nomadic relationship with animals

“Nomadism” in Central Asia Resources –Scarce water>>conflicts>>extermination of smaller groups>>in formation of alliances and –Around 1000 less water and pressure for tribes to move out to find new sources Hierarchical organization –Headed by single leader or Khan –Khan’s decision had to be ratified by a council of leaders of powerful families –Power groups demanded and received tribute in the form of slaves and goods –Some lived entirely on tribute

Nomadism in Central Asia Complex federations –The groups /families formed larger groups called federations –Women important in negotiating alliances Seasonal migrations and religious contacts –Brought into contact w/: Manichaeism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, & Islam –Religously tolerant –Khan thought to represent the sky god who transcended cultures and religions and seen as universal rulers above individual religs. & used religs. of their subjects

Nomadism in Central Asia Economic Self sufficiency –This was an ideal that they strove for –Yet always relied on trade w/settled people –When normal trade relations interrupted, nomads made war on agriculturalists

Mongol Conquests

Mongol conquests conquered form Korea to Hungary and Baghdad Ability to conquer based on: Horsemanship Better bows Following a volley of arrows w/ deadly cavalry Willing and actually adopting new military techniques Adopt new military technology Incorporate non Mongol soldiers into their armies

Mongol Conquests continued Reputation for slaughtering all who wouldn’t surrender (kind of makes them the world’s first tactical terrorists) Ability to take advantage of rivalry among enemies

Chingghis Khan The four most significant legacies of Chingghis Khan are: his tolerance of many religions his creation of the Mongols' first script his support for trade and crafts his creation of a legal code specific to the Mongols' pastoral-nomadic way of life

Overland trade and the Plague Mongol conquests {SIGNIFICANCE} opened overland trade routes and Never before seen commercial integration in Eurasia Long distance trade led to cross diffusion of military and scientific between Europe M.E., China, Japan, Iran

Overland trade and the Plague Diseases e.g. Bubonic plague spread over trade routes of Mongol empire Lingered in Yunan (Southwest) China Transferred to north China and Central Asia From Kaffa and from there to the Mediterranean world

Plague spreads from Kaffa

Origin and speed of Plague

MONGOL PEACE Pax Mongolica: Mongol Peace-during the 1200’s and 1300’s. Political stability allowed economic growth Control of the Silk Road-trade flourished Increased cultural exchanges Food Tools Inventions Ideas

KUBLAI KHAN Grandson of Genghis Khan Tried to prevent the Mongols from being absorbed into Chinese civilization Only allowed Mongols to serve in his army An uneasy mix of Chinese and foreign ways developed Adopted a Chinese name for his dynasty-YUAN Capable but demanding ruler Decline of Yuan dynasty after death

WESTERN VISITORS Marco Polo, Italian merchant, spent 17 yrs in Kublai’s service Wrote of the splendor of Kublai’s palace and of all the wealth found in China Other visitors from Europe and Asia Muslims set up their own communities in China

Impact of Mongol Rule Russian cultural center moved from Kiev to Moscow. Mongol armies invaded Europe and reached Vienna. Europeans opened up trade relations with the Mongols. Bubonic Plague spread throughout Europe and Asia. Ottoman Turks took over Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul in Mamluks resisted the Mongols in Egypt.

MING DYNASTY Mongols were pushed out of China in 1368, after the death of Kublai Khan Ming rulers sought to reassert Chinese greatness Restored the civil service system Confucian learning was once again the road to success Economic revival Population increase Fertilizing improvements Industry, porcelain, paper, and tools Repaired the canal system Book production Cultural revival Arts and Literature

CHINA AND THE WORLD Expeditions across seas Zheng He, Goals were to promote trade and collect tribute from lesser powers Turning Inward 1433, Zheng He dies and the Ming rulers abandon any further attempts to explore outside territories Lack of profits and Confucian scholars disinterest are the main causes for this abandonment

SUMMARY OF THE MONGOL AND MING EMPIRES Trade and cultural exchange flourished because Mongol rule ensured safe passage along the Silk Road and other trade routes. Goods and ideas from many cultures traveled with merchants along these routes-Cultural Diffusion Kublai Khan tried to keep Mongols from being absorbed into Chinese society/culture Ming rulers restored Confucian values and the civil service system Goals of the Ming sea expeditions were to promote trade, collect tribute and show the strength of the Chinese empire