Mongols

14.1 Mongol ESPIRIT (up to page 315) Civilization: Mongol Empire Time Period: 1200-1300 One of the greatest achievemenst of the Mongols was creating a far flung economic system in Eurasia that stretched from the Mediterranean to China, enabling people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds to freely and safely engage in an intercontinental trading network. - Livelihood depended on well-being of goats and sheep - Staple foods were meat and milk products (traded for grains and vegetables with people who practiced sedentary agriculture) || - Epitomized nomadic society and culture - Mongol culture one that placed heavy emphasis on war: young boys were trained to ride horses and shoot bows and arrows from a young age - Basic unit of Mongol society tribe (broken up into kin related clans) --> formed confederations in times of war or invasion - Russians and other subjugated people often enslaved - Russians won independance at Battle of Kulikova || - Mongol leaders were refered to as khans - Chinggis Khan grew up in a period of Mongol weakness; thrust into a position of tribal power at a young age; attacked by other clans but sought retribution --> appointed tribal leader (khagan) at kurlitai meeting and united 1/2 million Mongols under united front - Khan brought "organization, discipline, and unity of command" - Military units divided into basic units of 10,000 soldiers - tumens (futher broken down to levels of 1000, 100, and 10) - Campaigns into Xi Xia (first time they attacked fortified encampment, forcing them to reconsider military strategy), Kara Khitai, Khawarzm Empire - Khan established empire at Karakorum - Sons and grandson(s including Batu and Ogedei) continued Mongol conquests - Invaded Russia and Eastern Europe under Batu (often thwarted by change of season); Moscow benefitted from conquests because they became regional power - Western Europeans throught Mongols were lead by Christian leader Prester John; eventually spared from invasion b/c of internal Mongol division - Continued conquests into Middle East but thrawted by Egyptian forces called Baibars who formed alliances with Christians || - Although many people only saw destruction made by Mongol conquests, others benefitted from the economic system that they created || - Because the Mongols allowed subjugated people to worship their own religions, they were many times almost completely autonomous. || - Khan encouraged skilled people to come to capital of Karakorum; this included artisans, philsophers, and religious leaders || - Mongol riders could fire accurately at an enemy 350 yards away - Made distinction between light and heavy cavalary - Sent spies to draw maps of terrorities they would invade ||
 * E || Main Idea: A nomadic people, the Mongols relied heavily upon sheep and horses for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Some of their
 * S || Main Idea: The Mongols depended upon the leadership of strong tribal leaders, the most famous of which included Chinggis Khan.
 * P || Main Idea: Throughout their conquests, the Mongols often did not exert direct political control over their subjugated states; rather, they demanded tribute from vassals in return fro military protection.
 * I || Main Idea: The Mongols created an freely flowing economic system that spread from the Mediterranean in the West to China in the East, promoting the exchange of goods and ideas from people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
 * R || Main Idea: Despite the fact that Chinggis Kha followed a shamanistic belief system, the Mongols remained highly tolerant of other belief systems.
 * I || Main Idea: The Mongols were able to successfully integrate the knowledge of peoples across Eurasia, creating a bustling intellectual center at the capital of Karakorum.
 * T || Main Idea: The Mongols made significant strides in warfare technology, including flaming and exploding arrows, gunpowder projectiles, and bronze cannons.

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14.1 Mongol Headings (pg 315 - pg 322) The Mongol Interlude in Chinese History Main Idea: The Mongols, especially Kubilai Khan had a profound effect on Chinese society in the 9 decades they took control of the usually isolated nation. 1 - Kubilai Khan, Ghengis Khan's grandson, finally completed the conquest of the coveted Chinese dynasty. 2 - Khan encouraged distinct separation from Mongol and Chinese cultures. 3 - Still, Khan and other Mongols adopted some Chinese practices. Gender Roles and the Convergence of Mongol and Chinese Culture Main Idea: Mongol women refused to assimilate to Chinese culture, and forced to occupy a low position on the social ladder. 1 - Mongol women refused to adopt the Chinese practice of foot binding. 2 - Mongol women were sometimes allowed to accompany their husbands on the hunt. 3 - Kubilai Khan's wife, Chabi, served as an influential adviser to Kubilai himself. Mongol Tolerance and Foreign Cultural Influence Main Idea: The Mongols openly encouraged freedom of religion and encouraged people from other parts of the vast Mongol empire to come to China. 1 - Peoples like Muslims from the Middle East came to serve specific duties in the imperial capital, like running hospitals and translating Arabic medical texts. 2 - Buddhists, Nestorian Christians, Daoists, and Latin Christians were all allowed to worship freely in his court. 3 - Khan also hosted the Italian traveler Marco Polo, who subsequently wrote the most influential European text regarding Asia at the time. Social Policies and Scholar-Gentry Resistance Main Idea: Khan refused to reinstate civil service exams, shifted power from the scholar-gentry class. 1 - Under Khan, the scholar-gentry were disgruntled to see a shift in power (Khan wanted to wield supreme authority). 2 - More freedom and power was afforded to artisans because of their useful skills. 3 - Urban expansion and sedentary agriculture flourished under Khan. 4 - Plays like The Romance of the West Chamber were promoted by the Mongol authorities. The Fall of the House of Yuan Main Idea: Weak leadership and Chinese nationalism led to the end of Mongol intervention in China. 1 - Weak political leadership became distracted from "day-to-day administrative tasks." 2 - The scholar-gentry class encouraged revolt, and religious sects like the White Lotus Society were dedicated to overthrowing Mongol rule. 3 - A man from a poor peasant family, Ju Yuanzhang, founded the Ming dynasty (ruled China for the next 3 centuries). Aftershock: The Brief Ride of Timur Main Idea: Timur-i Lang emerged from Central Asia to devastate portions of Russia the Middle East and India. His reign, however, did not last long. 1 - Lang was a ruthless conqueror that was "indifferent to human suffering." 2 - He slaughtered tens of thousands of people in the city of Aleppo. 3 - His empire fell apart because of challenges from other warring commanders and old enemies. The Mongol Linkages Main Idea: The Mongols fundamentally altered the histories of people across Europe and Asia. 1 - The Mongol military machine, the greatest one ever seen, took control of Central Asia, China, Tibet, Persia, Iraq, Asia Minor, southern Russia, but not India. 2 - The Mongols helped to create a vast intercontinental trading system that forged relationships between nations that continued after the demise of Mongols themselves. 3 - The Mongols were also inadvertently credited with spreading the Black Death to China and Europe.