Interregional Trade and Exchange

1. Interregional Trade and Exchange 400 – 1450 CE MONGOLSAFRICA EUROPE

2. Introduction • From 600 – 1450 CE the world moved towards global contacts • In Eurasia the Mongols served as facilitators between East and West • In Africa Bantu speakers led to contacts with Arabs and sub-Saharan Africa • Eastern portion of the Roman empire lost territory to the Turks • Western Europe built on Greco-Roman traditions to forge a new empire

3. The Mongols • The Song Dynasty of China was overtaken by the Mongols in the 13th century • By the 15th century they had conquered China, Persia and Russia • Steppe Diplomacy – alliances with other pastoral groups and elimination of rivals • Chingiss Kahn – 1st ruler in 1206 • Died in 1222 • Empire extended from China to Persia • Excellent horsemen and masters of the short bow • Tolerant towards religious beliefs

5. Mongol Expansion to Russia • Mongols reached Russia by 1237 • Russians called the Mongols “Tartars” • Mongols set up a tribute empire to Russia called “The Golden Horde” • Serfdom arose as peasants gave their lands to lords for protection from the Mongols • Strengthened the Orthodox Church by making the “Metropolitan” the head of both the Russian and the Orthodox church • Mongols kept Russia isolated from Western Europe • Mongols tried to take over Europe from Russia but never happened

6. The Mongols in Persia • 1258 Baghdad was destroyed and Persia was added to the Mongol empire • 800,000 people were killed including the Abbasid Caliphate • 1243 Mongols defeated the Seljuk Turks weakening their dominance in Turkey and leading to the rise of the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century • Egyptian Mamluks (slaves) defeated the Mongols in 1260

7. The Mongols in China • Under the leadership of Kublai Kahn • 1271 controlled most of China • Referred to as the Yuan Dynasty • Overthrown in 1368 by the Ming Dynasty

8. Mongol Contributions to China • Chinese forbidden to read or write Mongol • Chinese/ Mongol marriage outlawed • Chinese men could hold positions in local and regional government • Mongol women had more freedom than Chinese women • Foreigners like Marco Polo were welcome in the Yuan Court • Unsuccessfully tried to invade Japan in 1274 but were turned back by treacherous winds called KAMIKAZE (divine wind)

9. Impact of Mongol Rule in Eurasia • Trade between Europe and Asia was the MOST IMPORTANT • Mid 13th – Mid 14th century was a time of “Mongol Peace” and stability • Spread of the bubonic plague • Fleas carried by rats traveled in Mongol ships to Europe • Became known as the Black Death • Contributed to the fall of the Yuan • Spread through the Middle East, N Africa, and Europe • 25 million dead, 1/3 population of Europe • Destroyed feudalism with the destruction of serfs • Took 100 years to recover

11. Other Nomads • Decline of the Mongols saw the rise of Timur the Lame (Tamerlane) a Turk from central Asia • His capitol of Samarkand was known for architectural beauty • Conquests known for severe brutality • From the 1300’s to 1405 when he died he spread destruction across Persia, Mesopotamia, India, and Southern Russia

12. China and European the Indian Ocean • After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty (Mongols) Indian Ocean trade was renewed • The Ming Dynasty sent out mass expeditions of the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea • Expeditions were undertaken by Zheng He; a Chinese man of Muslim faith

13. The Rise of Western Europe • By the 1400’s Europe's emerging monarchs possessed political power and financial stability to investigate the world • Technology had become more sophisticated through trade with China • Printing press, gunpowder, and compasses • Europe offered very few trade products causing a trade imbalance with the rest of the world and causing them to drain their treasuries of gold.