Week 13

World History

Day 1

How did early Muslims treat people with different religious beliefs?

What were the main reasons for the split between Sunni and Shia?Who was Muhammad?

Decline of the Abbasids• Powerful Abbasid Empire faces many

attacks during 700s and 800s• Persians conquer Abbasid capital,

Baghdad, in 945The Conquering Seljuks• Turks are a nomadic group living along

western border of China led by Turkish family—the Seljuks seizes Baghdad in 1055

• In 1071 Seljuk sultans crush Byzantine Empire at Battle of Manzikert

• Seljuks take most of Anatolia; bring Turks close to Constantinople

The Turks Secure Persian Support• Turks seek support of Persians and embrace

Persian culture• Give Persians key posts, including that of

vizier, or prime minister• Adopt Persian language and religion—Islam• Malik Shah was one of the most famous

Seljuk rulers, or shahs• He and other shahs support Persian artists;

build mosques

Malik Shah Dies•1092 Malik Shah dies; no capable shah

replaces him• Seljuk Empire turns into group of minor

kingdomsThe Seljuks and the Crusaders• Crusades begin in 1095—Christians drive

Turks out of Anatolia• In 1099, Crusaders capture Jerusalem;

massacre Muslims and Jews• Fragment of Seljuk Empire fights back,

Muslims recover Jerusalem• Captain Saladin allows Western pilgrims

access to Christian holy places

Seljuks Face the Mongols

• Mongol armies under leader Hulagu capture Baghdad in 1258

• Hulagu, Genghis Kahn’s grandson, burns palace, kills Abbasid caliph

• Ends Turkish rule with much bloodshed

Situation Outcome

945 Persians move into Baghdad

10th c. Turks migrate to Abbsaid empire

Slejuks march on Byzantine Empire

Seljuks name Isfahan as their capital

Turks adopt Persian as language and Persian culture

Malik Shah dies

Seljuks fight back against Crusaders

Further Crusades occur but each is weaker than the last one

Homework

Day 2

Why did the Seljuks need to seek religious guidance from the Persian peoples they had conquered?

How did the death of Malik Shah affect the Seljuk Empire?

Do you think it was wise for the Seljuks to place members of the conquered Persians in government positions? Why or why not?

Nomads of the Asian Steppe• Steppe—dry grassland of Eurasia, main

expanses Central Asia to eastern Europe, and Mongolia

• Steppe has little rain, dramatic seasonal temperature differences

The Nomadic Way of Life• Steppe nomads are pastoralists—• Way of life teaches Asian nomads to be

skilled horse riders who travel in clans• Nomads and people living in settled

communities often interact peacefully, as in trade Sometimes nomads raid towns and cities to seize wealth, goods

Steepes

The Rise of the Mongols• 1200, Genghis Khan unites Mongols• In early 1200s, begins campaign of

conquest• By 1225, controls Central AsiaGenghis the Conqueror dies in 1227The Mongol Empire• Successors continue conquests for 50 years• Conquer territory from China to Poland• In east, Mongols conquer northern China

and invade Korea• In west, Mongols take Kiev and threaten

Vienna and Venice• In 1250s, Mongols turn their attention to

Persia• By 1260, Mongol Empire split into

khanates, four regions

Genghis Khan

The Mongols as Rulers• Mongol rulers are tolerant of other peoples,

cultures• Some Mongols adopt local ways, leading to

split among khanatesThe Mongol Peace• Peaceful period from mid-1200s to mid-

1300s called Pax Mongolica• Much east-west trade, exchange of ideas

during this period.

Group Quiz

1

What was the primary cause of conflict between steepe nomads and sttled communities?

2

How was Genghis Khan able to unite the nomadic Mongols

3

What traits enabled Genghis Khan to conquer most of Asia?

4

Into what four khanates did the successors of Genghis Khan divide the Mongol Empire?

5

How did the Mogols rule?

6

How did cultural differences among thd khantes eventually affect the empire?

7

What was the Mongol peace?

8

How did the peace affect trade and cultural interaction?

Place your wager

9

Explain how the terms pastoralist and clan apply to the nomads of the Asian steppe?

Homework

Day 3

Who was Genghis Kahn?Why was terror so important to Genghis Kahn?

What happened to the Mongol Empire in the years after Genghis Khan's death?

Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis becomes emperor in 1260

• Kublai conquers China by 1279• Establishes Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368),

peace, prosperity adopts Chinese ways, capital at Beijing

• In 1274 and 1281, Kublai fails to conquer Japan

• Massive second invasion destroyed by typhoon

Mongol Rule in China• Mongols live apart from Chinese, separate

laws keep top government posts, Chinese in local positions

• Extends Grand Canal to Beijing, builds highway

Foreign Trade• Trade increases, sending Chinese products to

other lands and invites merchants from other lands to China

Bejing

Marco Polo at the Mongol Court• Venetian trader Marco Polo visits China in

1275• Polo returns to Venice in 1292; tells stories

of what he saw in China- fabulous cities, fantastic wealth- burning “black stones” (coal) to heat

Chinese homes6- Kublai Khan’s government and trade in

Beijing• These stories gathered into a book; most

readers doubt its truth

The End of Mongol RuleDeclining Power• Failed expeditions to Southeast Asia show

weakness of Yuan Dynasty• High taxes cause resentmentYuan Dynasty Overthrown• Kublai dies in 1294; successors are weak• In 1300s, rebellions break out, leading to

formation of Ming DynastyDecline of the Mongol Empire• Mongol rule collapses in Persia in 1330s; in

Central Asia in 1370s• By end of 1300s, only Mongol rule in Russia

remains, the Golden Horde

GroupsWho was Kublai Khan & Marco Polo?

When did the Mongols gain control of all of China? When did Kublai Khan rule?

Where did Kublai Khan build palaces? Move the capital of his empire?

Why did Mongols give high gov't post to foreigners? Why were they unable to conquer Japan? Why is the Yuan Dynasty important in Chinese history?

How did the Mongol rulers treat their Chinese subjects?How did they expand trade?

What brought about the fall of the Yuan dynasty?

Home work