The Mongols

Creating an Empire

The Mongols

• Mongols were nomads who lived in north China steppe (area of dry grassland) along with Huns, Turks, & other tribes; Mongols used horses & raised cattle & sheep; were excellent warriors

Chinese Steppe

The Mongols• Around 1200, a Mongol clan leader

named Genghis Khan (“universal ruler”) unified the Mongols under his leadership.

• For the next 21 year, he conquered much of Asia.

Genghis Khan• For the next 20 years, Genghis

Khan led a campaign of terror throughout Central Asia, destroying cities and slaughtering people.

Genghis Khan 3 factors that contributed to his

success:

1. Well-organized army with experienced fighters.

2. Genghis Khan was able to outthink & outwit his enemies.

3. Used cruelty as a weapon. It convinces others to surrender without a fight.

Genghis Khan • He died in 1227, but his successors

continued to expand the empire.• Under Genghis’s son and grandsons

the Mongols conquered:

- China - parts of Korea

- Russia - threatened Eastern Europe

WOW!! The Mongol Empire is huge!!

The Mongol Rulers• In 1260, the empire was divided

into 4 areas called khanates:

- Mongolia and China

- Central Asia

- Persia

- Russia

The Mongol Rulers

• The rulers of these areas gradually adopted the culture of the people they ruled. (examples: West became Muslim, China took on Chinese culture)

• This contributed to the splitting of the empire.

Mongol Rulers• Tolerant rulers in times of

peace. Rarely imposing their beliefs on others.

• Imposed stability, law and order across Eurasia.

• Provided safety and trade between Europe and Asia which led to the Pax Mongolica.

Pax Mongolica• Means “Mongol Peace”• The Mongols guaranteed safe

passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries throughout their empire.

• Trade between Europe and Asia was extremely active. Many Chinese innovations reach Europe for the 1st time.

Pax Mongolica• Some historians also believe

that the bubonic plague that devastated Europe in the 1300s was first spread by the Mongols.

• The disease might have traveled along trade routes to have been passed by infected Mongol troops.

Kublai Khan• Grandson of

Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, took power in 1260.

• In 1279, Kublai Khan finally defeated the Chinese army and became the first foreigner to gain complete control of China.

Kublai Khan• He founded the Yuan dynasty that

ruled China for about 100 years. • His dynasty united China for the

first time in several hundred years and open China to trade with the west. (Making him one of China’s greatest emperors.)

Kublai Khan• The Mongols did not disrupt

Chinese government or culture, they adopted it.

• Kublai Khan adopted Chinese culture and built a new capital city in Beijing. He enjoyed living the luxurious life of a Chinese emperor.

“I have heard that one can conquer the empire on horseback, but one cannot govern it on horseback.”

- Kublai Khan’s

Chinese Advisor

Kublai Khan’s Empire• Mongol ways would not work in

a sophisticated civilization like China.

• To rule his empire, Kublai Khan continued Chinese practices.

v.

Kublai Khan’s Empire

• Mongols had little in common with their Chinese subjects.

• The Mongols kept separate identities, lived apart from the Chinese and obey different laws.

Kublai Khan’s Empire• They kept the Chinese out of high

government positions, but retained Chinese officials to serve locally.

• Most high positions went to Mongols or foreigners. The Mongols believed that foreigners were more trustworthy since they had no local loyalties.

Marco Polo• The most famous European

foreigner to visit China during this time was a young Venetian trader , Marco Polo.

Marco Polo• He arrived at Kublai Khan’s court

around 1275 and Polo ended up serving the Khan for 17 years. (Remember Kublai liked to give government positions to foreigners.)

• Kublai recognized his “merit and worth” and sent him on special missions around the empire.

Marco Polo• Polo returned to Venice in 1292.• During a war in Venice he was

later captured and imprisoned. In prison, he told the full story of his travel and adventures in China.

• Fellow prisoners recorded his tales, workings of Kublai’s government and aspects of Chinese life in his book, The Travels of Marco Polo.

Marco Polo• Polo described China’s fabulous

cities, it fantastic wealth, and strange things he saw there.

- He mentioned burning of “black stones” (coal) in Chinese homes.

• His book was an instant success in Europe, but many didn’t believe a word of it.

End of Mongol Rule• In the last years of Kublai Khan’s

rule weakness began to appear.- His armies and navies suffered

defeats in their expansion efforts.- Heavy spending on wars, public

works, and luxuries created resentment among the overtaxed Chinese.

End of Mongol Rule• Kublai Khan died in 1294. After

his death the Yuan dynasty began to fade.

- Succession issues caused conflict, 4 Khans in 8 years.

- Rebellions broke out in many parts of China.

- Economic problems and official corruption.

End of Mongol Rule

• The Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols in 1368.

• The Chinese founded the new Ming dynasty

Kublai Khan’s LegacyKublai Khans’ Legacy:• Rebuilt the Grand Canal.• Because of the Pax Mongolica, foreign

trade increased, which took Chinese products like printing, gun powder, paper money, the compass, and playing cards to Europe.

• He invited foreign merchants to visit China.