1. Pastoral Peoples, Mongols, and Yuan Dynasty

2. The Extent of the Mongol Empire
The Mongols built a vast empire across much of Asia, founded the Yuan dynasty in China, and opened China and the region to greater foreign contacts and trade.

3. The Mongols Nomads from the Steppe Fierce Warriors
In the 1200s a nomadic people called the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia to create the largest land empire in history.
Vast steppes, grasslands, stretch across north-central Eurasia, home to nomadic peoples
Steppes too dry for farming
Nomads relied on herds of domesticated animals
Often traded; but also swept down on settlements, took what they wanted
Nomads from the Steppe
Like Huns, Turks, the Mongols emerged as powerful nomadic people on Central Asian steppes
Herded sheep, goats
Skilled with horses
Accustomed to living in harsh environment, competing for scarce resources
Tough people, fierce warriors
Fierce Warriors

4. Mongolian Steppes
Steppe- A vast semiarid grass-covered plain, as found in southeast Europe, Siberia, and central North America.

5. Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. Insulated with sheep wool in the walls and the roof.

6. The Universal Ruler Separate Clans Genghis Khan Campaign of Conquest
Mongols divided into separate clans, each led by a khan, chief
Khans rose to power through military skills, ability to lead
1100s, Temujin, powerful khan, began to conquer rivals, unite Mongol clans
Genghis Khan
1206, Temujin completed task, took name Genghis Khan, “Universal Ruler”
Set out to build empire, organized Mongols into powerful military machine
Strict discipline, demanded loyalty, rewarded those who pleased him
Campaign of Conquest
Mongol forces began bloody campaign of conquest; highly mobile armies
Employed brutality, psychological warfare; burned towns, killed inhabitants
Sent agents ahead to instill fear; soon people surrendered without a fight
Chingghis Khan when elected the ultimate ruler, or KHAN of the Mongol tribe. He managed to break individual clan loyalties and construct new military units with allegiance to himself as the leader. Masters of the shortbow. Mongol contact with the Chinese also introduced them to other weapons of war such as catapult, gun powder, cannons, flaming arrows and battering rams. When Chigghis Khan died in 1227 the Mongols controlled an empire that extended from Northern China to eastern Persia.

7. Mongol Invasions

8. Mongol Warriors
What do we remember from our reading about Mongol warriors?
Learn to walk they could ride a horse
Had lots of weapons lances, hatchets, and iron maces, short bow the most powerful yards away.
Lifestyle bread mobility
Messenger system? Does anyone remember this from the the reading?

9. Mongol Archer
How did the Mongol’s ride? Shoot a short bow while ducking under a horses belly or leaning over the horse’s rump. Mongol army was entirely cavalry meant they moved to rapidly that their advances alone could demoralize there enemy.

10. The Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire Khanates
Genghis Kahn led Mongols in conquering much of Asia
Mongols learned art of siege warfare, gunpowder in fights against Chinese, Turks
At Genghis Kahn’s death, 1227, Mongols controlled much of northern China, Central Asia
Sons, grandsons took up challenge of world conquest
The Mongol Empire
Genghis Kahn’s empire divided into four khanates, heir ruled each region; new Great Khan ruled over whole empire
Grandsons resumed efforts to complete conquests of China, Korea, Persia
1236, Golden Horde, or Tartars, began conquering Russia, Poland, Hungary
Khanates
Mongols executed the only successful winter invasion of Russia in history. Cities that resisted Mongol advances saw their inhabitants massacred or sold into slavery.

11. Mongol Rule-under Chingghis
Temujin --> Genghis Khan [“Universal Ruler”]
1162 – 1227
Illiterate/not ignorant
Consulted with Confucian scholars on how to rule China,design weapons, improve trade with further lands to the east and the west.
Secure trade routes prosperous merchants and wealthy cities
All religions were tolerated .

12. The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”]
Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:
If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity.
If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children.
If you do not have children, we will take your wife.
If you do not have a wife, we will take your head.
Used cruelty as a weapon  some areas never recovered from Mongol destruction!

13. Effects of Mongol occupation in Russia
Serfdom arose as peasants gave up lands to the aristocracy in exchange for protection
Mongol rule kept Russia culturally isolated from Western European trends such as the Renaissance.
Moscow benefited financially by acting as a tribute collector for the Mongols.
Strengthen the Orthodox church by making the head of Orthodox church head of the Russian church.
Established presence in Russia- next goals were to conquer Europe
Attempted conquest of Hungary in 1240
Left to handle succession issues in their own capital of Karakorum
Proposed conquest of Europe never materialized.

14. Gold Saddle Arch – Mongols, 13c

15. Gold Saddle, Front View – Mongols, 13c

16. Golden Horde stood ready to invade western Europe
The Golden Horde
Golden Horde stood ready to invade western Europe
Grandson Batu learned of Great Kahn’s death, suddenly turned back
India, Western Europe escaped Mongol wrath
Most of Eurasia devastated
Millions had died, entire cities annihilated

17. The Mongol Peace Stability in Asia
Mongols built empire with brutality, ruled peacefully
Tolerated local beliefs, ways of life, allowed local rulers to stay in power as long as they paid tribute to Mongols
Some Mongols adopted aspects of more civilized cultures; Mongols in Central Asia, Persia, adopted Islam
Stability in Asia
Mongol Empire established peace, stability across Asia
Some historians call period Pax Mongolica, “Mongol Peace”
Guarded trade routes across Asia, allowed trade to increase; people, goods, ideas flowed across Asia
Some believe Black Plague spread from Asia to Europe during period

18. Mongol Nobleman, Short bow,

19. Robe of a Mongol Nobleman, early 14c

20. Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

21. Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

22. How were the Mongols able to build a vast empire across much of Eurasia?
Answer(s): army was skilled and well organized, rules promoted loyalty and obedience; tactics involved brutality and psychological warfare; built fear in those they conquered

23. Kublai Kahn Rules China
The Yuan Dynasty
Great Kahn
1260, Kublai Khan became Great Kahn of Mongol Empire
Determined to complete conquest of China begun in 1235
Southern Song
Mongols ruled northern China
Southern Song dynasty ruled in south, fiercely resisted Mongols
1279, Song defeated; Kublai Khan created Yuan dynasty
Kublai Kahn Rules China
As emperor, Kublai Khan tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects
Adopted Chinese practices, gave dynasty Chinese name
New Capital
Kublai Khan moved capital to near what is now Beijing
Built Chinese-style walled city, lavish palace, adopted Chinese court ceremonies

24. Above is a picture of Suzhou in Jiangsu province showing houses along the Grand Canal.
From north to south, the Grand Canal is over 1,700 kilometers (roughly 1,100 miles) long,
linking Hangzhou in Zhejiang province with Beijing in the north. An extremely important
water project that was first started in the Sui dynasty ( ), it connects several big rivers
and provides an important means of transportation and communication.
With the two pictures below in mind, how do you think the access to rivers and lakes would
have made the lifestyle of people in the south different from that of people in the north?

25. Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E.
Kublai Khan [r ]
Pax Mongolica [“Mongol Peace”]
Tolerated Chinese culture but lived apart from them. 
No Chinese in top govt. posts.
Believed foreigner were more trustworthy.
Encouraged foreign trade & foreign merchants to live and work in China.
Marco Polo
The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family.
Founded the Imperial University
Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system)
Soldiers dropped to lowest status.
Confucianists at work; Daoists at home.
The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake!
Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation
Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported.
Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.

27. Kublai Khan Rules China
Mongol Identity
Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor
But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture
Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common
Separation
Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged
Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese
Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military
Limited Power
Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power
Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts
Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office

28. Taxes to Trade Peace Foreign Trade
Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes
Large part of taxes supported public-works projects
Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal
Improvements made shipping rice, other goods from southern China to northern China easier, more reliable
Mongols posted soldiers throughout China to keep peace
Feared rebellions, particularly in south where many Chinese remained loyal to Song dynasty
Peace
Foreign trade increased
Pax Mongolica made land travel safer for merchants
Sea trade improved; foreign merchants welcomed to China’s ports
Foreign Trade

29. How did Mongol rule in the Yuan dynasty affect life for the Chinese?
Summarize
How did Mongol rule in the Yuan dynasty affect life for the Chinese?
Answer(s): made the Chinese subordinate to the Mongols; limited their power

30. End of the Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats. All of his invasions into Southeast Asia failed, and Mongol armies suffered huge losses.
Kublai Khan had set sights on conquering Japan
Tried to invade Japan twice
Disastrous results each time
Japan
First attempt: 900 ships attacked Japan, storm destroyed fleet
Second attempt: Khan sent larger fleet, severe storm again wiped out fleet
Attacks
After two fleets destroyed by storms, Mongols never attempted Japanese invasion
Japanese called storms that saved them kamikaze, “divine wind”
Kamikaze

31. Mongol Warriors

32. Military and Monetary Losses
Huge military losses in Japan weakened Mongol forces that controlled, protected China
Large amounts spent on public-works projects weakened economy
Weaknesses, Chinese resentment of Mongols, left empire ripe for rebellion
Black Plague was spread by Mongols in the mid 1300s
Weaknesses
1294, Kublai Khan died, power struggles erupted. He became more concerned with accumulation of wealth than the efficient administration.
Khan’s successors lacked talent for leadership
Floods, rising taxes further increased discontent
1300s, Chinese rebelled, defeated Mongols
Mongols fled to Manchuria, ending foreign rule in China by 1368
End of Dynasty

33. Identify Cause and Effect
What factors led to the end of the Yuan dynasty?
Answer(s): military defeats and failed invasions; lack of good leadership; power struggles; Chinese discontent