Post on 18-Jan-2016
Chapter 11Section 2
Key Terms
Khan Genghis Khan Pax Mongolia Kublai Kahn Marco Polo
Nomads and the Asia Steppe
Two Eurasia steppes
Land trade route connector
Home to nomadic people Plunder Loot Conquer their
neighbors
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
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
The Nomadic Way of Life
• Depended on animals for– Food– Clothing– Housing
• Diet was meat and maer’s milk
• Clothing of skins and wool
• Lived in tents called yurts
Nomadic Way of Life
Clans- kinship groups that traveled together
Descended from a common ancestor
Khan- chief or leader of a clan
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
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
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
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
Genghis the Conqueror
Cruelty as a weapon Terrifying into
surrender Don’t 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”
The Mongol Empire
Genghis Khan died 1227
Successors conquered from China to Poland
Largest unified empire in history
The Khanates
Sons and grandsons continued conquests
Leveled Kiev, China, Korea, close to Venice
1250 halted westward expansion
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)
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 further splits
The Mongol Peace
Pax Mongolica-1200-1300’s stability and law
Safe passage of trade caravans, travelers and missionaries
Trade between Europe and Asia increased
Bubonic plague possibly came from the Mongols
Kublai Khan Rules China
Tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects
Did not force Chinese to adopt Mongol life
Moved capitol from Mongolia to Beijing
Adopted Chinese ceremonies
Kublai Kahn Rules China
Mongols lived apart from the Chinese
Friendships were discouraged
Intermarriage was forbidden
Chines not allowed to have weapons or serve in the military
Different laws for Mongols and Chinese
Kublai Kahn Rules China
Distrusted Chinese and limited their power
Chinese officials serveda t the local level
Invited foreigners to hold government offices
Burdened Chinese with heavy taxes and laborers
Foreign Trade
Built enormous ships to improve trade
Welcomed foreign merchants
Offered traders special privileges
Merchants ands missionaries came to China
Marco Polo
Italain trader from Venice
Kublia Kahn liked him Sent Polo on
missions for 17 years Polo captured back in
Italy Told prisoners of his
adventures
Marco Polo
Described grand palaces
Walls covered in giold and silver
Chinese postal system
Use of paper money
Size and splendor of China
End of Yuan Dynasty
Kublai Kahn had invaded Southeast Asia
Suffered huge losses 900 Mongol ships
attacked Japan Most ships
destroyed in a storm Tried again with a
larger fleet
End of the Yuan Dynasty
Kamikaze- divine wind
Destroyed the fleet both times
Ecomony weak because of too much spending
After Khan’s death power struggle ensued