1. The Mongol Empire
World History I

2. Focus Activity
Write down the first words or phrases that come to mind when you see the following terms:
Empire
Marco Polo
Genghis Khan

3. Who are the Mongols? Homeland – Rugged steppe region north of China
Nomads
Depended upon animals (especially the horse)
Constantly searching for water and vegetation
Precarious (fragile, dangerous) lifestyle
At the mercy of nature
Relied upon trade with other civilizations in times of need
Motive for empire?

4. Genghis Khan
Especially fierce, powerful Mongol leader who lived from about 1162 to 1227
Consolidates dispersed Mongolian tribes
Creates a Mongolian Empire
Name means “Universal Ruler”
Encouraged skills of battle and the mindset of a warrior
Advantage of cavalry over foot soldiers
Warfare was a way for individuals to gain honor, power and riches in Mongolian society

5. Early Mongolian Empire
Capital = Karakorum
Early 1200s Genghis Khan captures Beijing, central Asia and most of Persia
Genghis’ legacy:
Unity
Religious tolerance
Written language for the Mongolians
Mongolian legal code

6. Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis, known as the “Great Khan”
Conquers the rest of China, Tibet and Southeast Asia [tried but failed to conquer Japan]
Establishes the Yuan Dynasty in northern China in 1271 – conquer Southern Sung in 1279
Adopts many Chinese beliefs, customs and institutions

7. Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Benefits of the Yuan Dynasty to the Chinese:
Extended the Grand Canal
Instituted efficient government
Over 10,000 courier stations
Supported the arts
Increased trade with India and Persia
Contact with Europe
Disadvantages of the Yuan Dynasty:
Had to pay tributes
Language barrier
Second-class citizens

8. Marco Polo Italian merchant and explorer
Very impressed with the Mongol society
“If you put together all the Christians in the world, with their Emperors and their Kings, the whole of these Christians, …would not have such power, or be able to do so much as this Kublai, who is Lord of all the Tartars in the world.”

9. Decline of the Yuan Reasons:
Huang He (Yellow) River floods causing destruction and famine
String of weak successors
Chinese unrest

10. Mongolian Empire: Review
Given what you know about Mongolian culture, try to explain the meaning of this Mongolian proverb:
"Better the bone be broken than one’s reputation.“
In what ways did the Mongolians create an “empire”?
What aspects of Mongolian lifestyle and culture contributed to the creation of an empire?

11. Mongolian Empire: Review
Read the following passage from Marco Polo’s accounts of his travels. What is he saying about Kublai Khan? What is he saying about his empire?
“Whenever the Great Khan sits at the table on any great court occasion, his table is elevated a good deal above the others…Outside the hall are more than 40,000 people; for there is always a great crowd of folk bringing presents to the Lord, or coming from foreign countries with curiosities…On the buffet are placed all the Lord's drinking vessels, among which are certain pitchers of the finest gold, which are big enough to hold drink for eight or ten persons.”