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

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

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

4. The Yurt

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. TRADE MONGOL GOLDEN AGE = PAX MONGOLIA Free and Open Trade
Mongols controlled trade routes
Unusual alliances occurred
Disease is spread
Great pandemic
“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.”

11. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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)

19. 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

24. 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

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