The Mongols and World HistoryThe Formation and Dissolution of Nomadic Empires

Age of Cross-Cultural Interaction(1000 – 1500 CE)

•Nomadic Empires•Sub-Saharan Africa•Western Europe in the High Middle Ages•The Americas and Oceania•Cross-Cultural Interactions c.1500

•Formation of Nomadic Empire ▫Features of nomadic life▫Chinggis Khan (1206-1227)▫Maintenance and division of Mongolian

Empire(s)

•Marco Polo and Kublai Khan▫Route and Experiences▫Influence on western conceptions of “the east”

Key Points•The Mongolian rise to power depended on a

confluence of political, economic, and regional factors

•The united Mongolian empire under Chinggis Khan fragmented on his death into 4 successor states

•Marco Polo’s journeys demonstrate growing (commercial and cultural) interaction by 1300

I. Formation of Nomadic Empires

Temujin / Chinggis Khan (c.1160 – 1227)

“Mongol” – award-winning film by Sergei Bodrove (subtitled) Mongol (2007: Chinggis' wife stolen)

Mongol (2007-brothers divided) Mongol (2007- Mongols united))

Mongolian military: cavalry, archery, gunpowder, siege equipment, support systems

Chinggis Khan establishes Mongolian script and law code

  Heaven has appointed me to rule all the nations, for hitherto there has been no order upon the steppes. --Genghis Khan

Key factors that led c.125,000 warriors to build the largest land empire in history

•Military prowess

•Adaptation of local societies/talents

•Timing: fragmentation of postclassical states

Area controlled by Chinggis Khan (1227)

The Mongolian Empires:Yuan, Chagatai, Il-Khanate, Golden Horde

Mongolian Empires at greatest extent (c.1294)

Mongolian Empire, 1204

Mongolian Empire, 1218

Mongolian Empire, 1227

Mongolian Empire, 1246

Mongolian Empires, 1286

II. Marco Polo (1254 – 1324)

Venice and Trade c.1000 - 1500

Kublai Khan (1215 – 1294)

Marco Polo’s travels (c.1271 – 1295)

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo’s travels (c.1271 – 1295)

Contrasting Responses to Contact:West (European/Asian) and East Asian