The Mongol Empire

1. The Mongol Empire By Marina Daniels and Allen Caldwell

2. Genghis Khan died and his successors continued to expand his empire. • Mongols began conquering territory from China to Poland. • They created the largest unified land empire in history.

3. Khanates • Mongols decided to divide their huge empire into four regions called khanates. • Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China • Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia) • The Ilkhanate (Persia) • Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia) • A descendent of Genghis ruled each khanate.

4. Mongols as Rulers • As they invaded, the populations of some cities Mongols went to were wiped out. They ended up destroying ancient irrigation systems also. • Mongols were known to be ferocious in war, but tolerant in peace. • The Mongols had religious tolerance • Some of the Mongol rulers even adopted aspects of the culture of the people they ruled. • Ex: The Ilkhanas and Golden Horde became Muslims because of who they were ruling. • They had many different religions throughout the whole empire.

5. Mongol Peace • The Mongols imposed stability and law and order across most of Eurasia. This was known as PaxMongolica (Mongol peace) • They guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries from one empire to another. • Trade with Asia and Europe had never been easier and more active. • Mongols were the lords of city-based civilizations across Asia and China.

6. Kublai Khan • Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan. • He decided to focus on extending the power and range of his own khanate and began trying to conquer all of China like his grandfather had previously done.

7. A new Dynasty • Kublai Khan created the Yuan dynasty and united China for the first time in more than 300 years. • The control imposed by the Mongols across all of Asia opened China to greater foreign contacts and trade. • Kublai decided to abandon the Mongolian steppes for China. • He tried to extend his rule to Japan but both times he tried the Japanese turned back the Mongol fleets and a typhoon ended the attempts.

8. Foreign Trade and The Mongols and the Chinese • Mongols lived apart from Chinese and followed different laws. • They wanted to keep Chinese out of high government offices, but let some Chinese serve on a local level. • Kublai Khan increased trade largely due to the Mongol Peace • Travel routes were more safe now for trade and travel. • Kublai encouraged trade by inviting foreign merchants to visit China

9. Mongolian Women • Women had more power and more of an influence • Men would marry many women at one time, which was called polygamy • They had much freedom and worked either in the house or out in society

10. Mongol Empire declines • Trying to further expand the empire Kublai sent many expeditions to Southeast Asia but his armies suffered many humiliating defeats. • After Kublai died the Yuan dynasty was fading. • Rebellions were breaking out since the Chinese had resented the Mongols for such a long time • Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols • Soon the Mongol Empire had disintegrated and only the Golden Horde stayed in power.