The Mongol Conquests

1
The Mongol Conquests

• Chapter 12
• Section 2

2
Key Terms

• Pastroralists
• Clan
• Genghis Khan
• Pax Mongolica

3
Nomads and the Asia Steppe

• Two Eurasia steppes
• Land trade route connector
• Home to nomadic people
• Plunder
• Loot
• Conquer their neighbors

4
Geography of the Steppe

• Western steppe central Asia
• Home to the Hittites
• Eastern steppe
• Home to Huns, Turks and Mongols
• Very little rain
• Temps from -57 to 96
• Climate milder in west

5
The Nomadic Way of Life

• Pastoralists-herded domestic animals
• Searching for food
• Followed seasonal patterns
• Battles arose over water rights
• Asian nomads lived on horsback

6
The Nomadic Way of Life

• Depended on animals for
• Food
• Clothing
• Housing
• Diet was meat and maers milk
• Clothing of skins and wool
• Lived in tents called yurts

7
Nomadic Way of Life

• Clans- kinship groups that traveled together
• Descended from a common ancestor

8
Steppes, Nomads and Settled Societies

• Peaceful trade
• Exchanged horses for grain, metal and cloth
• Prided themselves on toughness
• Took what they wanted from towns people
• Nomadic people eventually become part of who they
  conquer

9
The Rise of the Mongols

• Roamed the eastern steppe
• Temujin unites the Mongols
• 1206 accepts name Genghis Khan- universal ruler
• 21 years led the Mongols to conquer much of Asia

10
The Rise of Mongols

• Muslims murder traders and Ambassadors of Khan.
• Launches campaign of terror across Central Asia
• Destroy one city after another
• 1225 Central Asia under Mongol control

11
Genghis the Conquer

• Brilliant organizer
• Armies of 10,000
• 1,000 man brigades
• 100 man companies
• 10 man squads
• Gifted strategists
• Tricks to confuse the enemy
• Small group draw in opposing army

12
Genghis the Conqueror

• Cruelty as a weapon
• Terrifying into surrender
• Dont open gates, kill whole population
• Most towns surrender
• In most countries that have not yet been overrun
  by them, everyone spends the night afraid they
  may appear there too

13
The Mongol Empire

• Genghis Khan died 1227
• Successors conquered from China to Poland
• Largest unified empire in history

14
The Khanates

• Sons and grandsons continued conquests
• Leveled Kiev, China, Korea, close to Venice
• 1250 halted westward expansion

15
The Khanates

• 1260 divided into four regions or khanates
• Khanate of the great Khan (China, Mongolia)
• Khanate of Chagatai
• Ikhanate (Persia)
• Khanate of the golden Horde (Russia)

16
The Mongols as Rulers

• Populations of some cities were wiped out
• Destroyed ancient irrigation systems
• Tolerant in peace
• Adopted some of existing cultures
• Some became Muslims
• Led to furthersplits

17
The Mongol Peace

• Pax Mongolica-1200-1300s stability and law
• Safe passage of trade caravans, travelers and
  missionaries
• Trade between Europe and Asia increased
• Bubonic plague possibly came from the Mongols