World History
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Know the Mongols as a people, leaders and
conquerors
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Know where the Mongols conquered
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Know how the Mongols changed the region
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Lived in the Asian
steppe (dry
grassland)
 Drastic temperature
ranges (very hot
summer, very cold
winter)
 More rain in the west
than east

Pastoralists—nomads who herded domesticated
(non-wild) animals
 Depended on
▪ horses for transportation
▪ their animals for food, clothing, shelter
▪ trade for grain, metal, etc. that they couldn’t get otherwise
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Accustomed to hardship!
Very tough!
Tempted by
riches!
Cavalry
(as described in the podcast)

Genghis Khan (means “universal ruler”)
 1162-1227 ; became ruler in 1206
 Wanted to unify the Mongol clans
 Conquered much of Asia
 Died from illness, NOT from battle!
“Ms. Rabidoux, who is
that old Asian guy?”
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After Genghis died, sons and grandsons
continued to travel with armies
Split up the empire into khanates (smaller
sections)
Kublai Khan- became “Great Khan” in 1260
 conquered China and unified the entire area
under the Yuan Dynasty
▪ First time China was united in over 300 years!
 tried to invade Japan twice and FAILED.
Four
khanates:
1. Golden
Horde
2. Ilkhanate
3. Chagatai
4. Khanate
of the
Great
Khan

Very tough warriors
 Burned down cities
 Killed without concern

Peaceful rulers
 Rarely imposed their beliefs or way of life on
those they conquered
 Tolerant of religion
 Sometimes adopted the culture of the people
they ruled

“I have heard that one can conquer the empire
on horseback, but one cannot govern it on
horseback”—advice to Kublai Khan

Solution: Use Mongols or foreigners for
important government offices, but keep the
Chinese as local rulers

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RULE NEW LANDS AS
NOMADIC PEOPLE.
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Pax Mongolica- Mongol Peace
 Stability and law & order across the entire empire
 Safe for trade, travel, and religious missionaries

Increased trade- Chinese secrets (like
gunpowder, silk, porcelain) finally made their
way to Europe. European and Muslim traders
came to visit the east.

Built infrastructure- canals and highways

AS THE MONGOLS DIVIDE THE EMPIRES AMONG
DESCENDANTS OF GENGHIS, THEY LOSE THEIR NOMADIC
LIFESTYLE.

AS MONGOLS SETTLE DOWN THEY START TO
INTERMARRY, ADOPT THE FOOD, LANGUAGES,
RELIGIONS, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR CONQUERED
PEOPLES

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THEY FIGHT THEIR MONGOL
RELATIVES JUST LIKE THE EMPIRES THE MONGOLS
CONQUERED FOUGHT AMONG THEMSELVES—AND FOR
THE SAME REASONS—BEFORE GENGHIS ARRIVED.