DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION:



DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION:

INTERACTIONS ALONG THE EURASIAN STEPPE

Directions

The following question is based on the accompanying documents. (The documents have been edited for the purpose of this exercise). The question is designed to test your ability to work with and understand historical documents. Write an essay that:

• Has relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence from the documents.

• Uses all or all but one of the documents.

• Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible and does not simply summarize the documents individually.

• Takes into account both the sources of the documents and the authors’ points of view.

Essay Prompt

Analyze the importance of interactions and movements across the Eurasian steppe. Evaluate their impact on international, economic, and social developments as well as determine what their single greatest contribution to greater Eurasian history was.

Based on the following documents, discuss the significance of the Eurasian steppe in world history. What types of additional documentation would help access its impact on its neighboring regions?

Historical Background

The Eurasian steppe stretches from just east of Beijing, China across Inner Asia to the Ukrainian borders with Poland, Moldava, Romania, Russia and Belarus. It stops in the great taiga forest zone of North Asia, but connects easily to the deserts of Central Asia, the Kara and Kizil Kum with their river basins as well as the Great Northern European Plain which runs to the North Sea. Inner Asia consists of parts of Siberia (Eastern Russia), Khazakstan, Kirgizistan, Uzbekistan, Tadzikistan, Turkmenistan, Sinkiang, Manchuria and Inner Mongolia (Western and Northern China), and Mongolia.

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DOCUMENT 11

FOOTNOTES

1. Erik Hildinger, Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to 1700 A.D. (New York: Sarpedon, 1997), vii – x in passim.

2. Arthur Koestler, The Thirteen Tribe: The Khazar Empire and its Heritage (New York: Random House, 1976), 70.

3. Peter N. Stearns, et. al, World Civilizations: The Global Experience (New York: Longman – Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc., 2001), 484.

4. Jerome Dominquez, compiler, World Religions, and 101 Cults, Sects, and Denominations (New York, accessed March 13, 2004); [database on-line]; available from ; Internet.

The Buddhist Scriptures – An Overview (Australia: Pandora Archive, accessed March 14, 2004); [database on-line]; available from pan/14286/20010703/mag_scr.htm; Internet.

5. Renate Roll, The World of the Scythians, translated by F. G. Walls (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1980; 1989 English translation), 70.

6. Isenbike Togan, Flexibility and Limitations in Steppe Formations: The Kerait Khanate and Chinggis Khan (Leiden, Netherlands; New York; Koln, Germany: Brill, 1998), 53.

7. Michael W. Dols, The Black Death in the Middle East (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1977), 40 – 41.

8. Irene M. Franck and David M. Brownstone, The Silk Road: A History (New York: Facts on File Publications, 1986), 91.

9. Nigel Cameron, Barbarians and Mandarins: Thirteen Centuries of Western Travelers in China (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1976), 47 – 48.

10. Irene M. Franck and David M. Brownstone, 185.

11. Irene M. Franck and David M. Brownstone, 185.

DBQ INNER ASIA GEOGRAPHY

In order to understand the history of Central or Inner Eurasia, one must begin with its physical and climatic geography. The region is dominated by a rolling, grassy steppe that runs almost the entire length of the great continent. Bordering the steppe to the west and east are expansive plains in Europe and Northern China and the arid deserts of Central and East Asia. To the south run broad mountains and mountain plateaus with numerous passes and gorges into other regions. In the north the thickly forested taiga runs from the North Sea in Europe to the Pacific Ocean. Within this area, originated the Central Asian pastoral nomads, which until 1750 interacted with the settled civilizations of Europe, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. Students should be able to locate and identify these geographic terms and places.

1. nations of inner eurasia

Kazakhstan

Turkmenistan

Tadzikstan

Kirgizia

Uzbekistan

Mongolia

china

1) Sinkiang

2) Inner Mongolia

3) Manchuria

UKRAINE

RUSSIA

1) WESTERN SIBERIA

2) EASTERN RUSSIA

3) KUBAN

2. PLAINS

EURASIAN STEPPE

GREAT EUROPEAN PLAIN

SOUTH RUSSIAN PLAIN

PLAIN OF HUNGARY

NORTH CHINESE PLAIN

3. DESERTS

KARA KUM

KIZIL KUM

GOBI

UST-URT

TAKLA MAKAN

4. TAIGA FOREST BELT

5. TARIM BASIN

6. MOUNTAINS

T’IEN SHAN

K’UNLUN SHAN

ALTAI

DZUNGARIA GAP

HINDU KUSH

CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS

URAL MOUNTAINS

HINDU KUSH

KHYBER PASS

IRANIAN PLATEAU

TIBETAN PLATEAU

MONGOLIAN PLATEAU

7. BODIES OF WATER

CASPIAN SEA

ARAL SEA

LAKE BAIKAL

BLACK SEA

AMU DARYA RIVER

SYR DARYA RIVER

VOLGA RIVER

8. THE SILK ROAD

DBQ INNER ASIA VOCABULARY

NOMADS

SEDENTARISM

PASTORAL NOMADISM

DOMESTICATED ANIMALS

SHIFTING AGRICULTURE

TRIBUTE EMPIRES

COURAGE CULTURES

SHAMANISM

NOMADIC WOMEN

SILK ROAD

SILK ROAD EXCHANGES

a. RELIGION ALONG THE SILK ROAD

1) MAHAYANA BUDDHISM

2) NESTORIAN CHRISTIANITY

3) ZOROASTRIANISM & MANICHAEISM

4) SUNNI AND SUFI MUSLIMS

b. MERCHANT CARAVANS

c. TRADE GOODS

d. ART

e. TECHNOLOGY

f. DISEASES

CHARIOT PEOPLES

a. INDO-EUROPEANS including HITTITES, CIMMERIANS

b. INDO-IRANIANS

1) SOUTHWEST ASIA: MEDES, PERSIANS, PARTHIANS, BACTRIANS

2) CENTRAL ASIA: SCYTHIANS, SARMATIANS, Sakas

3) SOUTH ASIA: INDO-ARYANS

YÜEH CHI (KUSHANS)

XIONG-NU including HUNS, EPHTHALITES (WHITE) HUNS, BLACK HUNS

AVARS, MAGYARS, PECHNEGS

TURKS including KHAZARS, BULGARS, KIPCHAKS, UIGHRS

“MAMELUKS”

MONGOLS

“PAX MONGOLICA”

JURCHEN (MANCHURIANS)

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PASTORAL NOMADIC MOVEMENTS OFF

THE EURASIAN STEPPE INTO OTHER REGIONS

|TRIBE |PERIOD |INNER |SW |SOUTH |EAST |EAST |WEST |

| | |ASIA |ASIA |ASIA |ASIA |EUROPE |EUROPE |

|Indo-Europeans |2ND millennia BCE |Yes |Yes | | |Yes |Yes |

|Indo-Iranians |2ND millennia BCE |Yes |Yes | | | | |

|Indo-Aryans |2ND millennia BCE |Yes | |Yes | | | |

|Scythians/Sakas |6th– 3rd century BCE |Yes |Yes |Yes | |Yes |Yes |

|Sarmatians |5th century BCE |Yes | | | |Yes | |

|Xiong-Nu |2nd century BCE |Yes | | |Yes | | |

|Bactrians |2nd century BCE |Yes |Yes |Yes | | | |

|Parthians |2nd century BCE |Yes |Yes | | | | |

|Kushans |1st century CE |Yes | |Yes |Yes | | |

|Huns |4th – 5th century CE |Yes |Yes |Yes | |Yes |Yes |

|Avars |5th– 6th century CE |Yes | | |Yes |Yes | |

|Khazars |6th century CE |Yes |Yes | | |Yes | |

|Turks |6th–10th century CE |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes | |

|Bulgars |6th century CE |Yes | | | |Yes | |

|Uighurs |9th century CE |Yes | | |Yes | |Yes |

|Magyars |9th century CE |Yes | | | |Yes |Yes |

|Petchenegs |10th century CE |Yes | | | |Yes | |

|Khitan |11th century CE |Yes | | | |Yes | |

|Jurchen |11th-17th century CE |Yes | | |Yes | | |

|Mongols |13th–15th century CE |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes | |

Hasadi Ibn Shaprut, Jewish Chief Minister of the Caliph of Cordoba (Spain), a letter to King Joseph, Kingdom of the Khazars (Turks) who lived in Southern Russia and converted to Judaism, c. 955 CE

“I questioned the Byzantines about your kingdom, and they replied that it was true [it existed] and that the name of the kingdom is al-Khazar. Between Constantinople and this country the Byzantines say there is a journey of fifteen days by sea . . . ships come to us from their land bringing fish, fur, and all sorts of merchandise. They are in alliance with us and honored by us. We exchange embassies and gifts. They are powerful and have a fortress for their outposts and troops, which go out on forays [against the Muslims and pagan nomads] from time to time.”

|REGIONAL EXCHANGES ALONG THE SILK ROADS AND STEPPE |

|Place of Origin |Contributions to the Exchanges |

|China |Silk, Paper, Books, Paper Money, Porcelain, Lacquer Ware, Jade, Tea, Gunpowder, Firearms, |

| |Compass, Wheel Barrow |

|Central Asia |Horse, Chariot, Stirrup, Cavalry, Camel, Pants, Iron Smelting Technology |

|South Asia |Spices, Gems, Perfumes, Cotton, Cotton Cloth, Buddhism, Religious Objects, Religious |

| |Scriptures, Numerals, Mathematics Concepts |

|Southwest Asia |Textiles, Sugar Cane, Tapestries, Carpets, Metals, Fine Iron Weapons, Medicines, Medical |

| |Knowledge, Scientific Knowledge, Nestorian Christianity, Manchaeism, Islam |

|Europe |Honey, Glassware, Slaves, Gold, Silver, Christian Missionaries |

[pic][pic][pic]

Kushan (Greco-Bactrian) Guptan Dynasty Kamakura Shogunate

Central Asia Northern India Japan

1st Century CE 5th Century CE 12th century CE

Images of Siddharta Gautama (“The Buddha”)

The Prophet Jeremiah, Book of Jeremiah, Hebrew Tanaka, 5: 15-17, 50: 41-42

describing an account of the Scythians, Indo-European nomads from the steppe

“Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from afar . . . and they shall eat up your harvest, and your bread. They shall eat up your flocks and your herds. They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees. They shall impoverish your walled cities, wherein you seek safety, with sword . . . Behold a people shall come from the north (the steppes) and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth (Black Sea). They shall hold the bow and the lance; they are cruel, and will not show mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses.”

Kutadgu Bilig (Wisdom of Royal Glory), a book of advice for Turkish rulers of Central Asia, c. 1069 CE

“[Merchants] never rest from trading and making a profit. They roam the world for a living, while they keep mind and heart devoted to God. Associate with them – do business with them . . . For they have acquired all the choice and beautiful and desirable things of the world. They travel round from east to west . . . They provide all sorts of silken stuffs, and all the world’s rare and wonderous things. . . . If the China caravan ceased to raise dust on the roads, how could these countless kinds of silks arrive. So consort with them, leave the door open. Treat them kindly . . . Hear a man who has roamed the world: if you would spread your name abroad, be sure to treat travelers hospitably. Give merchants good recompense . . . favor the traveler and merchant caravan.”

Al-Magrizi, Egyptian doctor and historian, from his chronicle of the spread of the Black Death in Southwest Asia, mid – 1300 CE

“Before the disease reached Egypt, it began in the lands of the Great Khan, a six month journey from Tabriz (city in Iran), a country inhabited by the Khitai and the Mongols. These heathen people numbered more than 200 tribes and all perished without apparent reason in their summer and winter encampments, in the course of pasturing their flocks and during the seasonal migrations [across the steppe]. Their mounts died, beasts and men abandoned where they fell. The land of the Khitai became deserted; in three months, sixteen princes died. The soldiers of the Mongol Great Khan perished in considerable numbers. Ultimately the Great Khan himself and six of his children succumbed to the disease. China was depopulated by the pandemic, while India was damaged to a lesser extent.”

Chinese Hymn, Han Dynasty 101 B.C.E.

“The Heavenly Horses are coming, coming from the West.

They crossed the Flowing Sands, for the barbarians are conquered.

The Heavenly Horses are coming, that issued from the waters of a pool.

Two of them have tiger backs; they can transform themselves like spirits,

The Heavenly Horses are coming across the pastureless wilds.

A thousand leagues at a stretch, following the eastern road.

The Heavenly Horses are coming . . .

Open the gates while there is time.

They will draw me [Emperor Wu] up and carry me,

To the Holy Mountain at K’un-lun.

The Heavenly Horses have come,

And the Dragon (China) will follow in their wake.

I shall reach the Gates of Heaven.

I shall see the Palace of God.”

Friar William of Rubruck, Agent of King (St.) Louis IX of France to the Mongols, from his journal record of the expedition, c 1254 C.E.

“Living among the peoples of Asia though of alien race are Nestorian (Christians) and Saracens (Muslims) all the way to Cathay (China). In fifteen cities of Cathay there are Nestorians, and they have a bishop in a city called Segin (Ch’ang-an, the old Tang capital) . . . The priests of the idols (Buddhists) all wear wide saffron-colored cowls. There are among them, as I gathered some hermits who live in forests and mountains, and who are wonderful by their lives and austerity. The Nestorians know nothing. They say their masses and prayers and have sacred books in Syriac, but they do not know the language so the chant like monks among us who do not know grammar, and they are absolutely depraved. They are usurers (loan money for profit) and drunkards; some even have several wives. When they enter church, they wash their lower parts like Saracens. They administer no sacrament without receiving renumeration.”

Poem by Yüan Chen, 8th century C.E. Tang Dynasty Poet

“Ever since the Western (Turkish) horsemen

began raising smut and dust,

Fur and fleece, rank and rancid

have filled Hsien (Ch’ang-an, Tang capital) and Lo (Loyang).

Women make themselves Western

Matrons by the study of Western makeup;

Entertainers present Western tunes,

In their devotion to Western music.”

Orkhon Stone Inscription, Eastern Turks in Inner Mongolia, 679 C.E.

“The sons of the Turkish nobility became slaves of the Chinese people and their virgin daughters became bondmaids. The Turkish nobles abandoned their Turkish titles and received Chinese ones in their place. They submitted to the Chinese kaghan, and for fifty years worked and strove on his behalf. For him they undertook expeditions towards the rising sun, and to the west as far as the Iron Gates (in Turkestan). But to the Chinese kaghan they surrendered their empire and their institutions.”

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