The MongoliansA Nomadic Empire

Pastoral NomadsDependent on horses, camels, goats, sheep,

cattle, yaks, reindeerNot in the Americas – No domesticated

animalsFeature of Pastoral Nomads

- generally less productive- needed grasslands for grazing- smaller populations- lived in kinship groups / clans- more equality-mobility

Pastoral NomadsDeep connection with agricultural neighbors

- sought access to food / manufactured/luxury goods-Adopted Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam

Formation of states was difficult but possible- Chinggis Khan –unified the tribes- almost all men became warriors

Mastered lands not suitable for agricultureAfter 1000bce horseback riding changed the

lives of the nomads

The XiongnuThe first nomadic empireMounted warfare made empire possible

-horses of the steepsCentralized hierarchical systemServed as a model for Turkic and Mongol

EmpiresExtracted tribute from China and other

nomads

Xiongnu

Arabs and the TurksGreatest impact of nomads was from 500-

1500-Arabs, Berbers, Turks, and Mongols created largest empires

Byzantium, Persia, India, and China were all controlled at least for a time by formerly nomadic people

Bedouin Arabs – camel nomads- effective fighters- made trade through Arabia possible

Bedouin – Crucial to Islamic Expansion

The Mongol EmpireCreated the largest land empire in historyExtensive connections of nomads with

agricultural neighbors – trade/tribute-mostly interested in exploiting neighbors

Mongol population – only 700,000Mongols - the last great nomadic state

From Temujin to Chinggis KhanTemujin created the Mongol EmpireShifting alliances, betrayals and military

victories- reputation as a great leader

1206 – tribal council recognized him as “Chinggis Khan” (universal leader)

Wide expansion after unificationBy the time of his death, the mission of

Chinggis Khan was to “unify the world”

Chinggis Khan

Mongol Military SuccessesWell-led, organized, disciplined army

- conquered tribes were broken up and scattered among units- all members of a unit were killed if any deserted in battle- leaders shared the hardships of their men- elaborate tactics: encirclement, retreat, deception- horses of the steeps

Reputation of Brutality- those who resisted were destroyed

Mongolian Battles

Mongolian Bureauocracyelaborate census taking and systematic

taxationsystem of relay stations for communication

and tradeencouraged commercelower administrative posts to Chinese and

Muslim officialspracticed religious toleration

China and the MongolsDestructive in northern China, more tolerant in

South– accommodation of populace- landowners guaranteed their estates in return for support- gave themselves a dynastic title (the Yuan)- built a new capital—Khanbalik (Beijing)

But the Mongolians were still harsh- Mongols didn’t become Chinese- Mongol law discriminated- women had a surprisingly good quality of life

Rebellions forced the Mongols out

Persia and the MongolsVery destructive

– many Muslims massacred- Agriculture messed up – turned into pasture land

Mongols were transformed in Persia- large scale conversion to Islam- extensive use of Persian bureaucracy- Mongol elites learned Persian

Mongols were assimilated when the empire fell apart

Russia and the MongolsRussia was devastated – they could not unite

- destruction of cities - widespread slaughter- deportation of skilled workers

Did not occupy Russia- invaded for tribute, taxes and slaves- Moscow was the primary tax collector which made it powerful

Russia broke free of Mongolian rule by 15th century

Remember – Russia = Christian/Orthodox Church

Mongol Empire

Mongol Empire

A Eurasian NetworkTowards a Global Economy

- produced little, not active traders- but they promoted trade as a source of tax revenue- created relatively safe travel across central Asia (Marco Polo made the trip and got home safe)

Cultural Exchange- thousands of artisans were forcibly relocated to Karakorum (Mongol Capital)- Chinese technology and Art flowed West- Europe benefited greatly from these encounters- scholars argue that Europe’s rise to power has its’ foundations with the Mongols

The Plague (aka Black Death)Spread across Eurasian trade routesSpread by fleas on rats (Jews blamed)first biological warfare – Mongols catapulted

plague infested bodies into enemy townsPlague responsible for breakdown of Mongol

Empire and eliminating trade routes-this is why Europeans sought other routes to Asia

1/3 – 2/3 of Europe died- undermined serfdom-more equality for women

The Plague