Chapter 5: The Mongol Khanates

Question 1

Babur

Answer 1

What/Who:
- Descendant of Gengis Khan
- Founded the Mughal Empire in India (CH3)

When:
- 1526 - 1530

Why important IR / Significance:
- Emphasis on connection between the different subcontinent → India and Mongols are connected

Question 2

Gengis Khan/Temüjin

Answer 2

What/Who:
- Son of a chieftan of a nomadic tribe, the Mongols
- Got stolen away from is family to be a slave, escapes and saves his
wife (Börte) from being captured by another tribe
- Started going on raids and became popular
- Tengerist
- Has to return home because of an uprising of the Tanguts and dies

When:
- 1162 - 1227

Why important IR / Significance:
- At a Kurultai (parliament of chieftans) in 1206, he got elected as Khan of Khans (Khagan) → All tribes are under his power → Unification of the Mongol state leading to a Mongol Empire
- Puts in place a legal code (yassa) and institutional framework
- Abolishes aristocracy → judge people based on merit
- Decimalization of the army (arban & tumen)

Question 3

The Tanguts, The Jurchen and Khanate of Qara Khitai

Answer 3

What/Who:
- Neighbors of the Mongols who got defeated by them

When:
- 1210,1214 and 1218

Why important IR / Significance:
- First phase of expansion
- Jurchen controlled the trading routes, Mongols could now gain profit from taxation etc.

Question 4

Khawarazmian Empire

Answer 4

What/Who:
- Persian empire with lots of wealth

When:
- 1219 - 1220 (invasion of Mongols)

Why important IR / Significance:
- Genghis Khan first thought they were too wealthy/powerful to
attack so he send over 2 diplomatic delegations asking for the right to trade → refused → attack
- Fall of Bukhara and Samarkand in 1220

Question 4

The Golden Horde (Batu Khan)

Answer 4

What/Who:
- Russian part of the Mongol Empire
- Sarai as its capital
- Ruled by Batu Khan (and Ödegei when expanding to Europe)

When:
- 13th century

Why important IR / Significance:
- Started to gain independence and later taken over by Red Army of the
Soviet-Union

Question 5

Möngke Khan

Answer 5

What/Who:
- Grandchild of Genghis Khan and successor of Ödegei Khan (see other document)

When:
- 1251 - 1259

Why important IR / Significance:
- Targeted the Muslim Caliphates → Attack was done by Hülegu
(brother)

Question 6

Ilkhanate (Hülegü Khan)

Answer 6

What/Who:
- Middle Eastern part of the Mongol Empire
- Ruled by Hülegü Khan
- Destructed Baghdad in 1258 → End of Arab Golden Age
- Islam as state religion, Persian court → Sense of independence → Hûgelü becomes Khan of his own region

When:
- 1256–1353

Why important IR / Significance:
- Battle of Ain Jalut (1260) → Defeat of Mongols, never came back
- Did not reach Cairo (Mamluks were too strong and had the same training)
- Diplomatic alliance with Franks and Pope (never happened)

Question 7

Yuan Dynasty (Kublai Khan)

Answer 7

What/Who:
- Dynasty based of Mongolian origin, ruled by Kublai Khan
- Attacked the Song dynasty from multiple sides (military tactics)
- Kublai Khan was in charge (decided by Möngke), after Möngke died
(1259), he holds Mandate of Heaven in 1279

When:
- 1279 - 1294 (reign of Kublai)

Why important IR / Significance:
- Invaded Korea (success) and Japan, Java, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma (failed)
- Yuan dynasty was taken over by Ming → retreated to Mongolia ‘Northern Yuan dynasty’ → Taken over by Manchu’s in 1635

Question 8

Toluid Civil war

Answer 8

What/Who:
- Civil war between three brothers of Möngke after his death (1259) → Kublai, Ariq Böke and Hülegü

When:
- 1260 - 1264

Why important IR / Significance:
- Result: 4 separate Khanates → Were already independent but
now confirmed
- Golden Horde (Russia) → Batu
Khan
- Ilkhanate (Persia) → Hülegü Khan
- Yuan Dynasty (China) → Kublai
Khan
- Chagatai khanate → Chagatai
Khan
- International system of Khanates
- All brothers had (economical)
interests in each other’s lands
- Mongol identity and descent

Question 9

Pax Mongolia

Answer 9

What/Who:
- The Mongolian Peace → period of peace and stability IN MONGOL EMPIRE
- Outside borders = violent
- Created by the expansion of the Mongol Empire.
- Political, economic, and cultural unity across Eurasia
- Increased trade and cultural
exchange.
- örtöö = network of relay
stations
- caravanserai = relay station
- paiza = imperial seal, legal
document allowing trade,
mix between passport and
credit card

When:
- 13th to the 14th centuries

Why important IR / Significance:
- Diplomatic contact between the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia.