The Mongols

1. The Mongols Period 3: 600-1450 CE

2. “An unstoppable and bloody tide of horror.” or “Agents of change.” You decide… • Led by Chinggis Khan in the early 13th century ending the Song Dynasty. • Made Beijing their capital and ended the Confucian examination system. • Allowed foreigners especially Arab Muslims to administer the government. Basic Information

3. By the end of the 15th century, the Mongols had conquered China, Persia, and Russia controlling the largest land empire in history. • Facilitated the flow of trade during pax Mongolica and brought the plague to three continents. • The worst epidemic during the 14th century carried by merchant caravans from East and Central Asia, to the Black Sea region and into Western Europe. • Accomplished horsemen and nomadic herdsmen (sheep, yaks, goats, cattle, and horses). • Horsemanship was a major characteristic and reason why their armies were so effective • Supplemented meat and dairy by trading with agricultural societies. • Politically organized into tribes that could join together into confederations. Men held tribal leadership roles but women could speak in tribal councils. • Steppe diplomacy: alliances with other pastoral groups and the elimination of rivals Basic Information

4. The Mongols favored trade and taking over the regions along the Silk Roads made them so safe that it is referred to as Pax Mongolica (Mongol Peace) • Cities that opposed the Mongols basically disappeared • Central Asia lost as many as three-quarters of its population to Mongol destruction. • Estimated that China’s population declined by half during the Yuan Dynasty. • Arguments against the Mongols causing it because of disease and famine. Pax Monolica

5. Quick expansion • The Mongol Empire divided into regional khanates after Chinggis died. • The furthest advance was stopped in modern day Israel by Mumluk (slave) warriors from Egypt. • After time, people in the khanates rebelled and Mongol rule came to an end. But they left a legacy. • Largest empire the world has ever seen • Allowed freedom of religion in the areas they conquered • Mughal Empire of South Asia took its name from the Mongols • Increased trade because of the Pax Mongolica also increased movement of the Black Death Mongol Expansion

6. The Mongols reached Russia by 1237 • Russians called the Mongols Tartars. • The Mongols set up a tribute empire called The Golden Horde • Destructive invasion with an ending agreement with local Russian leaders who collected tribute and sent it to Mongol masters • Only successful winter invasion in Russian history • Inhabitants that resisted were massacred or sold in to slavery • Cities like Kiev were burned to the ground • Serfdom arose as peasants gave up their land in return for protection from the Mongols • Moscow benefitted by acting as tribute collector by taking land from those who couldn’t pay. • The Orthodox Church gained strength by making the head of the orthodox church (metropolitan)the head of the Russian Church • Russia was isolated from Western Europe’s renaissance • The tribute agreement lasted 200 years until Ivan the Great led a revolt against the Mongols in 1480. Mongols in Russia

7. 1258 the Mongols destroyed Baghdad and added Persia to the Empire. That portion was known as Ilkhanate. • More than 800,000 people were murdered including the Abbasid caliph which ended the 500 year Islamic control of Persia. • In 1243, the Seljuk Turks were defeated by the Mongols weakening the area which allow the Ottoman Turks to take control during 15th century. Mongols in Persia

8. In 1271, Kubilai Khan controlled most of China and referred to his administration of China as Yuan dynasty. Under Mongol rule… • Chinese were forbidden to learn the Mongol written language • Intermarriage between the Mongols and Chinese was outlawed • Religious tolerance was practiced • Chinese were allowed to hold positions in local and regional governments • Mongol women refused to accept the Chinese tradition of foot binding. Mongol women were allowed to move more freely in public. • The Yuan used expertise of scholars and artisans and foreigners were welcome at court. Marco Polo visited. • Merchants had higher status than in Chinese society • The rule ended by an overthrow by the Ming dynasty in 1368. Mongols in China