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

2. Mongol Geography Central Asian Steppe (Grassland)
Lack of Arable (Fertile) Land  Focus on Animal Herding (Pastoralism)
Flat land = Horseback Riding and Travel is Very Easy

4. The Yurt

6. Genghis Khan 1206 –Khagan (Supreme Ruler) Unites all Mongols
Brilliant Organizer
Strategist
Harsh and Cruel Ruler
CONQUEROR NOT ADMINISTRATOR

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

8. MONGOL GOLDEN AGE PAX MONGOLIA
Extensive TRADE
Mongols ensured open and safe trade routes.
All of Eurasia has increased trade
Russia, Middle East, India, China
Great pandemic (PLAGUE)
Spread the Plague
“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.”

9. Mongol Conquests SUCCESS China Persia Russia Central Asia FAILURE
JAPAN
SE ASIA
W. EUROPE
EGYPT

10. Re-Organization 4 Khanates After the death of Genghis Khan…
Khanate of the Golden Horde: RUSSIA
Khanate of the Great Khan: MONGOLIA/CHINA
Khanate of Chagatia: CENTRAL ASIA
Ilkhanate/Khanate of the IlKhans: PERSIA/MIDDLE EAST

11. How did Mongols treat the people they conquered?
Demanded slavish obedience and tribute
Open to new ideas/cultures
Religious Tolerance (Shamanistic)
New Capital – Karakorum
Confucian Scholars
Muslim Engineers
Taoist Holy Men

13. 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

17. Impact of Mongol Rule Russia Isolated Russia from Western Europe
No Renaissance, Enlightenment, Industrialization
United Russian City-States under one ruler
China
Opened China up to trade and interaction
Gunpowder, Block Printing, Plague are spread
Eurasia
Unprecedented levels of trade and interaction
Cultural Diffusion: Religion, Technology, etc.
The Plague

22. Marco Polo Marco Polo is an Italian Merchant who travels to China.
Kublai Khan is the leader of the Great Khan
Marco Polo serves in Kublai Khan’s Court
Marco Polo - 1st History of China in Europe
Increases Interaction between Europe and Asia