1. MONGOL CONQUESTS
CHAPTER 12, SECTIONS 2&3

2. MONGOL EMPIRE-RISE
Mongols were a nomadic people who grazed their horses and sheep on the steppes of Central Asia.
In the 1200’s, a brilliant chieftain united the Mongol tribes.
He called himself Genghis Khan which means “World Emperor”
Under his leadership the Mongols conquered many lands from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe.

3. GENGHIS KHAN
Genghis Khan imposed strict military discipline and demanded absolute loyalty
His armies were highly trained and mobile
He had a reputation of being fierce but he could also be very generous
His armies conquered the Asian steppe lands easily, but faced difficulty when they went after China
He did not live to see the conqueror of China but his heirs continued to expand the Mongol empire

5. MONGOL RULE The Mongols were not oppressive rulers
Allowed conquered people to live the same as they had before as long as they paid tribute to the Mongol rulers
Genghis Khan ruled conquered lands with toleration and justice, he listened to many ideas and respected scholars, artists, and artisans.
The Mongol warrior had no use for city life.

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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

11. 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

12. CHINA AND THE WORLD Expeditions across seas Turning Inward
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

13. 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