Loudoun County Public Schools



Effects of the Mongols LectureBackgroundChronology – 1206-1227Reign of Chinggis Khan1211-1234Conquest of northern China1219-1221Conquest of Persia1237-1241Conquest of Russia1258Capture of Baghdad1264-1279Conquest of southern ChinaGeography (see maps)The Mongols and the Eurasian EmpireBuilt the largest empire in history stretching from Poland to China13.8 million square miles100 million people under Mongol RuleWho were the Mongols?From the central steppes of AsiaNomadic peoplesUnited under the leadership of Temujin (a.k.a Chinggis Khan or Genghis Khan)“Courage Culture” – honor and prestige earned through performance in battle, culture revolves around acts of bravery, endurance, and strengthTemujinBorn 1167Orphaned – father poisoned by rival clans - throughout early adult life sought revenge for father’s death“Master of the art of steppe diplomacy” – courage in battle, making alliances, threats of revenge, deception and trickery, clan loyaltyWarlike and merciless: Fighting wasn’t enough, only winning was important“Man’s greatest joy is in victory: to conquer one’s enemies, to pursue them, to deprive them of their possessions, to make their beloved weep, to ride on their horses, and to embrace their wives and daughters…”1206 – Made “Chinggis Khan” or Great Khan or Great LeaderMongol art of warLarge, mobile armiesExpert cavalry - Mongols were great horsemenUse of mounted archersAll soldiers rode horsesBattle tactics – used deceit as a tactic – pretend to flee from an enemy to draw them into a trap“Cutting edge weapons” Accurate and powerful bows (Mongolian re-curved bow)Highly protective leather shields and armorUse of gunpowder as a weapon in battlePsychological WarfareWould slaughter the inhabitants of a few cities so word would spread to inhabitants of nearby cities who would more likely surrender rather than be killedHistorian John Fairbank: “By putting cities to the sword, they let terror run ahead of them”A Persian observer from the 13th century: “In one stroke, a world which billowed with fertility was laid desolate, and the regions thereof became a desert, and the greater part of the living and their skin and bones crumbling in the dust; and the mighty were humbled and immersed in the calamities of perdition…” After the death of Chinggis Khan, problems with succession left the Mongol Empire split into 4 Khanates (see map)Effects of Mongol Rule –Effects on EurasiaPax Mongolia Under the Mongols there was:Unprecedented long distance tradeWidespread exchange of people, technology, and informationWidespread cultural diffusion – Mongols were conduits of cultureStable government based on Islamic and Chinese administration systemsEstablishment of a unified law code (Yasa)More religious toleration within the Mongol EmpireBlack PlagueUse of plague victims as siege weapons at the Battle of Kalla on the Crimean Peninsula, helped to spread the disease to Western Europe (Black Sea merchants spread it to the Mediterranean sea ports) But the Mongols did NOT produce:Any technological breakthroughsA new religionMany written booksAny permanent structures (other than bridges)Any architectural achievementsEffects on EuropeWestern EuropeMongols turned away from Western Europe so it was not directly affected by the Mongol invasionsGained tremendously due to contact of merchants and exchange of diplomatic and religious envoysStrong relationship between Venetian merchants and Mongols, led to Venice becoming the focal point of trade between East and WestIncreased trade along the Silk Routes also spread disease (e.g. the plague) to Western EuropeEastern EuropeMongols defeated the Germans, Poles, Bulgars, and Hungarians because their lands were flat and grassy (steppe horse culture)Eastern Europe though was very poor so the Mongols didn’t really desire much so Eastern Europe was largely untouched by Mongol ruleRussiaMongol defeat of Kiev Russia in 1224 puts the people of Russia under Mongol ruleMost cities were destroyed and the ones that were spared had to pay high tributary payments to Mongol rulersBut – local Russian rulers were very autonomous as there were very few Mongol officials in RussiaAs long as regular tribute payments were sent, the Mongols left the Russian principalities alone (INDIRECT RULE)Mongol destruction of Kievan power leads to the rise of the state of Muscovy (Moscow)Becomes a cultural and economic centerIts ruler, Ivan III, finally defeats the Mongols in 1480 and Mongol rule over Russia endsMongol rule limited Russian interaction with Western EuropeKeeps Russia isolated from the cultural developments of the European RenaissanceEnd of Mongol rule causes a period of cultural decay in Russia except in northern RussiaEffects on Japan and KoreaMongols failed to conquer JapanTried to invade on two occasions – both times Mongol invasion fleet was turned back (kamikaze – divine wind)Little to no effect on JapanKorea - Mongols defeated the Koryo dynastyEconomy and peasant suffered (forced labor)Koryo family left in charge but Mongols forcibly arranged marriages to legitimize their rule and to Mongolize the ruling familyEffects on SE AsiaMongols conquered Burma and Laos but become tributary states (no direct rule)Failed to conquer VietnamDisease, supply shortages, climate, and Vietnamese resistanceMongols encouraged Chinese merchants to emigrate to SE Asia and establish trading stations in foreign ports (to expand trade)Effects on SW AsiaMuslim societies of SW Asia had highest levels of commerce and civilization - Mongol invasions did the most damage hereBaghdad - the heart of the Muslim world - was sacked and the Abbasid Empire ceased to existMongols controlled Islamic world from the Indus River to the MediterraneanNot since the birth of Islam had so much of the Muslim world been ruled by non-believersOnly North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula remained outside of Mongol controlMongol rule allowed Persian culture to reemerge after centuries of Arab dominationEffects on ChinaMongols defeat the Song Dynasty and conquer all of ChinaEstablish the Yuan DynastyAbolished the civil service examsTo reduce the power and influence of the scholar-gentryContinued to use the Chinese system of administration (bureaucracy) to administer ChinaPromoted trade and commerceRaised merchants’ status in ChinaEncouraged the movement of paper money (not just goods) to standardize units of account throughout the EmpireSupported the peasants and the peasant economyreduced some taxesincreased public granaries to feed peasants in times of famineBut forced peasants to work without pay on public works projects like rebuilding the Grand CanalCultural Effects of the Yuan DynastyProtected Mongol identity by forbidding Mongols to marry ChineseChinese were forbidden to learn the Mongol languageMongols did not adopt Chinese religions such as Confucianism or DaoismInstead opted to convert to Buddhism and IslamBuilt mosquesAppointed Islamic financial administratorsBrought Tibetan Buddhists monks to China to help rule and promote BuddhismTolerated all religions and expected Chinese to do the sameSocial Effects of the Yuan DynastyNew Social Hierarchy - based on ethnicity, put native or Han Chinese at the bottomMongolsnon-Han ChineseIslamic people from Western ChinaPersiansTurksNorthern Chinese, ManchuriansSouthern (Han) ChineseHan Chinese were discriminated against but ultimately it was the Mongols who adopted Chinese civilization (Sinification)WomenMongol women, unlike their Chinese counterparts, were expected to serve in the military - rode horses, used bows, commanded both men and womenMongol women rejected the Chinese practice of footbindingOnce Mongols began to be more Sinicized - Mongol women lost public power. Only women who remained in Mongolia continue to enjoy higher social statusKublai KhanGrandson of Chingiss KhanWell-educatedPreferred buildings and cities - not traditional Mongolian tents or yurtsExtend the Grand Canal to new capital of BeijingInfatuated with Chinese civilization - wanted to appear more Chinese so. through art, he sought to sinicize his imageHas lots of Chinese and foreign advisorsIncluding Europeans like Marco PoloMilitary was always under Mongol controlWhile he wanted to appear more Chinese to his public, in private, he and his family continued to act as Mongols in speech, dress, food, entertainment, etc.Fall of the Yuan DynastyShortest lived of the major Chinese dynasties (1264CE to 1368CE)Decline caused by:series of weak rulersLack of cohesion due to religious, ethnic, and cultural differencesIncreasing isolation of the Yuan DynastyChinese never accepted the legitimacy of Mongol ruleHigh taxes imposed by the Mongol rulersCorruption among the high officialsEventually overthrown in 1368 CE by Zhu Yuanzhang, a Buddhist monk, who establishes a new dynasty he calls the Ming (or “brilliant”) ................
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