The Mongols

Mongols on the attack

Nomads of the Steppe

• Geography: steppe divided into West, East– West steppe: Central Asia

to Eastern Europe– East steppe: Mongolia

• Very little rain, extreme temps (-57 to 96 F)

• Short hardy grass covered steppe

Nomadic Life

• Nomads who herded domesticated animals

• Depended on herds for food, clothing, housing

• Divided into clans, or family based groups

• Tribes (groups of clans) gathered to trade, elect king (ceremonial; little power)

Nomadic Life• Practically lived on

horseback– Arguably most skilled riders in

history– Owned 6-10 horses each– Could ride 100+ miles a day– Drank horse’s blood in

emergency; raw meat trick

• Steppe horses– Short legged, large heads (not

ponies!)– 4 million horses to about 1

million Mongols

Nomads vs. Settled Peoples• Why conflict?

– Nomads needed manufactured goods

– Nomads tempted to raid towns, merchants

– Strong empires resisted by building large armies, walls

Rise of Genghis Khan• 1200: a leader, Temujin,

united Mongol tribes• 1206: named Genghis

Khan, meaning “universal leader”

• Invaded Northern China and destroyed kingdom, devastating population

• Moved W against Muslims in Central Asia– Emissary story– Slaughter of Khwarezm

people until Sultanate surrendered

Genghis Khan• Brilliant organizer

– Standardized troop formations (10000 / 1000 / 100 / 10) along tribal lines

• Brilliant strategist– Use of missile troops and

shock troops– Tricks, strategies of hunt

• Used skills of captives to benefit army– Ex - siege weapons

• Used fear, terror to conquer• Est. largest geographic

empire in history

Mongol EmpireDivision of Empire (click here)

a) Khanate of Great Khan (family elected a son of Genghis)

b) Khanate of Chagadai (son)

c) Ilkhanate (son)

d) Khanate of Golden Horde (son)

Mongol Rule• Genghis died, 1227; son,

Tolui, succeeded him• Europe “saved” in 1241 w/

death of Tolui Yuan Dynasty (1264-1368)– Government of Mongols

• Capital moved to Beijing• Mongols, foreigners put over

Chinese• Kept Chinese customs of

dynastic name, merit bureaucracy

– Silk Road reopened (silk, porcelain)

AKA “Great Khanate”

Mongol Rule: Marco Polo

• Venetian merchant who traveled w/ dad to China

• Arrived in 1275• Became part of court of

Kublai Khan; served for 17 years

• Returned to Europe in 1295

End of Mongol Rule in China• Fall of Yuan Dynasty

– Kublai Khan died 1294– Breakdown of Mongol war

machine• Mongols got lazy, soft• Very corrupt rulers

– Chinese hated Mongols (barbarians)

– Famine broke out (floods, disease)

– Rebellion broke out, pushed Mongols out

– Chinese established the Ming Dynasty

First Ming Emperor, Hongwu