Mongol

Question 1

In the ______ (time), people called ________ burst forth from Central level.

What did they create?

Answer 1

Mongrols

In the 1200s a nomadic people called the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia to create the largest land empire in history.

Question 2

Who were the Mongols?

How were the Mongols living?

Answer 2

Steppes too dry for farming, home of nomadic people

• Nomads relied on herds of domesticated animals
• Often traded; but also swept down on settlements, took what they wanted

Question 3

What were the Mongols people like?

Answer 3

Fierce Warriors

• Like Huns, Turks, the Mongols emerged as powerful nomadic people
• Herded sheep, goats
• Skilled with horses
• Accustomed to living in harsh environment, competing for scarce resources
• Tough people, fierce warriors

Question 4

How were the Mongol people divided?

Who are the leaders of the Mongols?

Answer 4

• Mongols divided into separate clans, each led by a khan, chief
• Khans rose to power through military skills, ability to lead

Question 5

In 1206, a leader called ___________ emerged.

He was called ___________

Answer 5

•1206

Genghis Khan

“Universal Ruler”

Question 6

What did Genghis Khan do?

How did he hold onto power?

Answer 6

• Set out to build empire, organized Mongols into powerful military machine
• Strict discipline, demanded loyalty, rewarded those who pleased him

Question 7

What was Genghis Khan’s Campaign of Conquest?

Answer 7

• Mongol forces began bloody campaign of conquest; highly mobile armies
• Employed brutality, psychological warfare; burned towns, killed inhabitants
• Sent agents ahead to instill fear; soon people surrendered without a fight

Question 8

How did Genghis Khan achieve a Mongol Empire?

Answer 8

• Genghis Kahn led Mongols in conquering much of Asia
• Mongols learned art of siege warfare, gunpowder in fights against Chinese, Turks

Question 9

By time of Genghis Khan’s death, where did Mongol Empire control?

Answer 9

• At Genghis Kahn’s death, 1227, Mongols controlled much of northern China, Central Asia
• Sons, grandsons took up challenge of world conquest

Question 10

How was Genghis Khan’s empire divided?

Answer 10

• Genghis Kahn’s empire divided into four khanates,
• heir ruled each region;
• new Great Khan ruled over whole empire

Question 11

How did the Mongols empire rule?

What did they allow local people and culture to do?

Answer 11

The Mongol Peace

• Mongols built empire with brutality, ruled peacefully
• Tolerated local beliefs, ways of life, allowed local rulers to stay in power as long as they paid tribute to Mongols

Some Mongols adopted aspects of more civilized cultures;

Question 12

What did Mongol Empire establish across Asia?

Answer 12

•Mongol Empire established peace, stability across Asia

Question 13

This period of Mongol Peace was called ____________

Answer 13

•Some historians call period Pax Mongolica, “Mongol Peace”

Question 14

How did Mongol Empire spread?

Answer 14

• Guarded trade routes across Asia,
• allowed trade to increase;
• people, goods, ideas flowed across Asia

Question 15

What dynasty came after?

Answer 15

The Yuan Dynasty

Question 16

In 1260, ________ became Great Kahn of Mongol Empire.

What was he determined to do?

Answer 16

• 1260, Kublai Khan became Great Kahn of Mongol Empire
• Determined to complete conquest of China begun in 1235

Question 17

How did Kublai Khan create a dynasty?

Answer 17

• Mongols ruled northern China
• Southern Song dynasty ruled in south, fiercely resisted Mongols
• 1279, Song defeated; Kublai Khan created Yuan dynasty

Question 18

How did Kublai Kahn rule China?

Answer 18

• As emperor, Kublai Khan tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects
• Adopted Chinese practices, gave dynasty Chinese name

Question 19

What was the Mongol Identity under Kublai Khan?

Answer 19

• Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor
• But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture
• Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common

Question 20

How was the relationship between Mongols and Chinese?

Answer 20

Separation

• Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged
• Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese
• Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military

Question 21

What power did the Chinese have under Kublai Khan’s rule?

Who held government office?

Answer 21

Limited Power

• Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power
• Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts
• Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office

Question 22

How did the Mongols have money to do things?

What did they build across China?

Answer 22

• Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes
• Large part of taxes supported public-works projects
• Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal

Question 23

How did the Mongols maintain peace across China?

Answer 23

• Mongols posted soldiers throughout China to keep peace
• Feared rebellions, particularly in south where many Chinese remained loyal to Song dynasty

Question 24

How was the state of trade?

Answer 24

• Foreign trade increased
• Pax Mongolica made land travel safer for merchants
• Sea trade improved; foreign merchants welcomed to China’s ports

Question 25

What foreigners came to China?

Answer 25

As a result of Kublai Khan’s foreign trade policies, many merchants, travelers and missionaries came to China.

Question 26

The most famous European that came to China was ________

Answer 26

One of the most famous of these Europeans was Marco Polo

Question 27

Who was Marco Polo visit and where did he visit?

Answer 27

•Marco Polo, Italian trader visited Yuan court

Question 28

Where did Marco Polo travel to?

Answer 28

•Kublai Kahn sent Polo on several missions; traveled in, around China for 17 years

Question 29

How do we know about Polo’s travels?

Answer 29

•1295, Polo imprisoned in Venice, recounted tales to fellow prisoner

Question 30

What were stories of China told by Marco Polo?

Answer 30

Accounts of China

• Polo’s tales published as book
• Book fascinated many Europeans
• Polo described grand palace, with walls covered in silver, gold
• Noted efficiency of postal system, use of paper money
• Awed by size, splendor of cities

Question 31

What caused Yuan Dynasty to get weak?

Answer 31

The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats.

Question 32

Where did Kublai Khan try to conquer?

Answer 32

• Kublai Khan had set sights on conquering Japan
• Tried to invade Japan twice
• Disastrous results each time

Question 33

How did Kublai Khan attack Japan?

Did he succeed?

What happened?

Answer 33

• First attempt: 900 ships attacked Japan, storm destroyed fleet
• Second attempt: Khan sent larger fleet, severe storm again wiped out fleet

Question 34

What did the Japanese call these storms that saved them?

What did this term mean?

Answer 34

•Japanese called storms that saved them kamikaze, “divine wind” (remember the term…)

Question 35

What caused weaknesses in the Mongol Empire?

Give 3 reasons

Answer 35

• Huge military losses in Japan weakened Mongol forces that controlled, protected China
• Large amounts spent on public-works projects weakened economy
• Weaknesses, Chinese resentment of Mongols, left empire ripe for rebellion

Question 36

What happened after Kublai Khan died?

Answer 36

•1294, Kublai Khan died, power struggles erupted;

Khan’s successors lacked talent for leadership

Question 37

What else contributed to end of dynasty?

Answer 37

•Rising taxes further increased discontent

Question 38

By 1300s, how did Mongol rule of China end?

Answer 38

•1300s, Chinese rebelled, defeated Mongols,

ending foreign rule in China