Topic 2.2 Flashcards
Mongol Empire and The Modern World (25 cards)
How did the Mongols approach Eurasia?
- They marched across much of Eurasia throughout the 13th century, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake.
- Their reputation of slaughter spread farther than their actual conquest.
- Sparked a period of interregional connection and exchange at a level the world had not experienced
How did the Mongols live before?
In the 12th century, the Mongols were multiple clans of pastoral nomads, who herded goats and sheep, they were hunter-foragers, North of the Gobi Desert in E Asia.
- Life in this arid region was harsh and it shaped their culture.
What was the Mongol culture like?
- Expected everyone to become skilled horse riders, and they highly valued courage in hunting and warfare
Where did they covet wealth?
They conquered tribes that were located closer to the Silk Roads, where they had easier access luxury goods such as silk clothing and gold jewelry.
Who was Genghis Khan?
Mongol leader Temujin, born in 1162, created a series of tribal alliances and defeating neighboring groups one by one.
How did Genghis Khan rule the Mongol Empire?
- Formed key friendships
- Appointed talented nonfamily to positions over family members
- Considered personal loyalty the best way to run his kingdom
- Ruthless, killed his own stepbrother
How did Genghis Khan gain his new name?
- In 1206, Temujin gathered the Mongol chieftains at a meeting called ‘kuriltai’ where he was elected khan
- He took the name Genghis Khan -> ‘ruler of all’
Describe the beginning of Genghis’ conquest?
- How did he gain a reputation?
- He headed east and conquered the Jin Empire (Jurchens)
- He earned his reputation as a terrifying warrior during this campaign; anyone who resisted him was brutally killed in retribution.
- In 1227, his khanate reached from the North China Sea to eastern Persia.
Describe Genghis’ War Strategies?
- Soldiers skilled with the short bow and they were strong riders
- Highly disciplined and developed an efficient command structure
- Messenger force was created for communication
- Special units to map the terrain
- Their strategies extended to surprise and craft
- Would send a small group ahead for surrender, if they refused he killed all of their aristocrats
- Crafters, Miners, and others of skills were recruited for the Mongol Empire.
- Would quickly develop to the weapons their enemy was using -> siege weapons
What was Pax Mongolica?
The period of Eurasian history between the 13th and 14th centuries called ‘Mongolian peace’
What did Genghis Khan do during the Pax Mongolica?
- Established his capital at Karakorum
- Consulted with scholars and engineers of Chinese and Islamic traditions to help establish his government
- His social policies were liberal for the day -> established religious tolerance throughout his empire
- His soldiers took charge of protecting the Silk Roads
- New trade channels established
- Those who survived the Mongols benefited from them
- Made the Uyghur alphabet as an attempt to unify his empire
Genghis Khan’s grandsons: Batu
- Leader of the Golden Horde who led 100,000 soldiers into Russia
- Took the capital city of Kiev and continued west
- Soon after an encounter with the Polish, Germans, and French he wanted to set farther into Italy and Austria.
- Yet, Great Khan’s successor, Ogodei Khan, died and he called off the attacks and returned home for the funeral
- He had then lost interest in Italy and Austria
When did the period of sympathy for the Mongols end?
When the Golden Horde conquered a Christian region in Russia
How did the Mongols rule over Russia?
- How did the Russians drive them out?
The Mongols ruled Russia through existing Russian rulers, who sent regular tributes (indirect rule).
- The city of Moscow began collecting additional tributes to build up an army to resist the Mongols
* Through this coalition, they rose up against the Golden Horde and defeated them in the Battle of Kulikovo.
- Mongol influence began to decline
What were the effects in Russia left by the Mongols?
- Russia suffered devastation and death from the Mongol attacks
- Began to recover
- Promoted Russian princes to improve the military organization and the value of a more centralized government
- Severed its ties with Europe
- Developed a more distinct Russian culture
- Resistance to the Mongols created the foundation for a more modern state.
Genghis Khan’s grandsons: Hulegu
- Hulegu focused on the southwest region, including Persia
- Led the Mongols into the Abbasid territories where they destroyed Baghdad and killed the caliph
- They continued to push west, yet they were stopped as a result of an alliance with the Mamluks and the Crusaders who both viewed the Mongols as a serious threat.
- His kingdom was called Il-khanate in central Asia that stretched from Byzantium to Oxus River
How did the Mongols rule over Persia?
- Mongols ruled this kingdom, but Persians served as ministers and provincial and local officials
- Found that this arrangement resulted in maximum tax collection
- Many Mongols converted to Islam, before this conversion they tolerated all religions
- After the conversion, they supported the massacres of Jews and Christians
Genghis Khan’s grandsons: Kublai Khan
- Set his sights on China (Song Dynasty)
- China was a more formidable opponent
- Assumed the title ‘Great Khan’ and 11 years later finally defeated the Chinese.
- Established the Yuan Dynasty
How did the Mongols rule over China? (Now the Yuan Dynasty)
- Rebuilt the capital at Zhong du, calling it Dadu
- Religious tolerance -> inspired loyalty oppressed groups such as Buddhists and Daoists
- Because of their tolerance and their protection the Chinese initially enjoyed the rule of the Great Khan
- Brought prosperity because of cultural exchanges and improved trade with other countries
What were the Roles of Women in the Mongol Empire?
- Led more independent lives than women in order societies of the time.
- Women tended flocks of sheep and goats in addition to raising children and providing meals for the family
- Rode horses and wore leather trousers
- Could remarry after being widowed and could institute divorce.
How did the Mongols begin to lose power in China?
- Alienated the Han Chinese
1. Hired foreigners for the government
2. By promoting Buddhists and Daoists and dismantling the civil service exam system
3. Prohibited non-Mongols from speaking Mongolian - Failed to conquer Japan, Indochina, Burma, and Java
- These defeats suggested to the already disenchanted Chinese population that the Mongol were not as fearsome as they once were.
What was the secret White Lotus Society?
In the 1350s they began quietly organizing to put an end to the Yuan Dynasty
Who was Zhu Yuanzhang?
- A Buddhist monk from a poor peasant family
- In 1368, led a revolt that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty and founded the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
How did losing China impact the Mongols?
- Paralleled a general decline in their power elsewhere
- The empire began a shrink
- The Golden Horde lost its territory in Russia by 1369
- The same time Tamerlane was conquering Central Asian territories
