The Mongol and Ming EmpiresThe Mongol and Ming Empires

Mongol Armies Build an Mongol Armies Build an Empire Empire

The Mongols The Mongols were a nomadic people were a nomadic people who grazed their horses and sheep on who grazed their horses and sheep on the the steppessteppes, or vast, treeless plains, of , or vast, treeless plains, of Central Asia. Rival Mongol clans spent Central Asia. Rival Mongol clans spent much of their time warring with one much of their time warring with one another. another. In the early 1200s, In the early 1200s, however, a however, a brilliant Mongol chieftain united these brilliant Mongol chieftain united these warring tribes.warring tribes.

Conquests of Genghis Conquests of Genghis KhanKhan

Under the Under the leadership, of leadership, of Genghis Kahn, Mongol forces Mongol forces conquered a conquered a vast empire vast empire that stretched that stretched from the Pacific from the Pacific Ocean to Ocean to Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe.

Genghis KhanGenghis KhanOriginally called Temüjin, Genghis Khan (Originally called Temüjin, Genghis Khan (c.c. 1162–1227) 1162–1227) was renowned for being ruthless, determined, and was renowned for being ruthless, determined, and courageous. When Temüjin was nine years old, a rival courageous. When Temüjin was nine years old, a rival Mongol clan poisoned his father. At the age of 15, Mongol clan poisoned his father. At the age of 15, Temüjin was taken prisoner. For the rest of his life, he Temüjin was taken prisoner. For the rest of his life, he never forgot the humiliation of being locked in a wooden never forgot the humiliation of being locked in a wooden collar and paraded before his enemies.collar and paraded before his enemies.

When he regained his freedom, Temüjin wandered When he regained his freedom, Temüjin wandered among drifting clans. He took revenge on the clan that among drifting clans. He took revenge on the clan that had imprisoned him and in time, became supreme ruler had imprisoned him and in time, became supreme ruler of all the Mongols. Once despised, Genghis Khan would of all the Mongols. Once despised, Genghis Khan would be admired and feared across two continentsbe admired and feared across two continents

The Conquests of The Conquests of Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

He imposed strict military discipline He imposed strict military discipline and demanded absolute loyalty. His and demanded absolute loyalty. His armies had some of the most skilled armies had some of the most skilled horsemen in the world.horsemen in the world.Genghis Khan did not live to see his Genghis Khan did not live to see his conquest of China be completed.conquest of China be completed.His heirs continued to expand the His heirs continued to expand the empire. empire.

Mongols Invade ChinaMongols Invade China

Genghis Khan had a reputation for fierceness. He could Genghis Khan had a reputation for fierceness. He could order the massacre of an entire city. Yet he also could order the massacre of an entire city. Yet he also could be generous, rewarding the bravery of a single fighter.be generous, rewarding the bravery of a single fighter.

Genghis Khan & Mongol RuleGenghis Khan & Mongol Rule

The Mongols were not The Mongols were not oppressive rulers. They often oppressive rulers. They often allowed conquered people to allowed conquered people to live as they had before—as live as they had before—as long as they regularly paid long as they regularly paid tribute to the Mongols.tribute to the Mongols.Khan believed in tolerance of Khan believed in tolerance of others and an overall sense of others and an overall sense of justice. justice.

Political stability set the stage for Political stability set the stage for economic growth. Under the protection of economic growth. Under the protection of the Mongols, who now controlled the the Mongols, who now controlled the great Silk Road, trade flourished across great Silk Road, trade flourished across Eurasia. Eurasia.

Strength of the Strength of the MongolsMongols

Cultural exchanges Cultural exchanges increased as foods, increased as foods, tools, inventions, and tools, inventions, and ideas spread along ideas spread along protected trade routes. protected trade routes.

Kublai Khan (Genghis Kublai Khan (Genghis Khan’s grandson) Khan’s grandson) spread Mongol rule spread Mongol rule even further. even further.

Marco Polo Writes About ChinaMarco Polo Writes About ChinaItalian merchant Marco Polo spent time in China during Italian merchant Marco Polo spent time in China during the Yuan dynasty. (Kublai Khan renamed the Mongol the Yuan dynasty. (Kublai Khan renamed the Mongol Dynasty the Yuan Dynasty). His writings made Europeans Dynasty the Yuan Dynasty). His writings made Europeans veryvery

interested in interested in

China’s wealth. China’s wealth.

The Ming Restore The Ming Restore Chinese Rule Chinese Rule Yuan dynasty declined after the death Yuan dynasty declined after the death

of Kublai Khan. of Kublai Khan. Zhu Yuanzhang Zhu Yuanzhang (a peasant leader) (a peasant leader) defeated the Mongols and founded the defeated the Mongols and founded the Ming (brilliant) Dynasty . Ming (brilliant) Dynasty .

Achievements of the Achievements of the MingMing

Restored the civil Restored the civil service system, service system, and Confucian and Confucian learning again learning again became the road became the road to success. to success.

Farming methods Farming methods improved.improved.

Classic literature Classic literature

Valuable porcelain Valuable porcelain exported abroad exported abroad

Culture Flourishes Culture Flourishes

Chinese Fleets Sail the Chinese Fleets Sail the Seas Seas

Ming rulers sent fleets Ming rulers sent fleets into distant waters to into distant waters to show the glory of show the glory of their government and their government and promote trade. promote trade.

The most The most extraordinary of these extraordinary of these overseas voyages overseas voyages were those of Zheng were those of Zheng He (jeng he).He (jeng he).

““The countries beyond the The countries beyond the horizon and from the ends of horizon and from the ends of the earth have all become the earth have all become subjects. . . . We have subjects. . . . We have traversed immense traversed immense waterspaces and have behold waterspaces and have behold in the ocean huge waves like in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising skyhigh, and mountains rising skyhigh, and we have set eyes on barbarian we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away . . . while our regions far away . . . while our sails loftily unfurled like clouds sails loftily unfurled like clouds day and night continued their day and night continued their course, traversing those course, traversing those savage waves as if we were savage waves as if we were treading on a public thorough treading on a public thorough fare.”fare.”——Zheng He, quoted in Zheng He, quoted in The The True Dates of the Chinese True Dates of the Chinese Maritime Expeditions in the Maritime Expeditions in the Early Fifteenth CenturyEarly Fifteenth Century (Duyvendak)(Duyvendak)

Exploration Ends Exploration Ends In 1435, the year Zheng He died, the Ming emperor In 1435, the year Zheng He died, the Ming emperor suddenly banned the building of seagoing ships. suddenly banned the building of seagoing ships. We are not sure why. Possible reasons: cost? We are not sure why. Possible reasons: cost? Some Some Confucian scholars may have believed it was better Confucian scholars may have believed it was better to focus inward and ignore the outer world. to focus inward and ignore the outer world.

How would this ‘turning inward’ have hurt How would this ‘turning inward’ have hurt China?China?

How do you think the course of history may How do you think the course of history may have been changed by this decision to have been changed by this decision to abandon the great overseas voyages? abandon the great overseas voyages?