Mongols Flashcards
Mongols —— many great postclassical empires
ended/interrupted
How was the world network affected by the Mongols?
Extended world network – foundation for interaction on global scale
How was the Mongols military power?
Forged mightiest war machine
Four khanates
After Genghis Khan’s death in 1227, his vast empire was divided into four main khanates: the Golden Horde (Russia and Eastern Europe), the Ilkhanate (Persia), the Chagatai Khanate (Central Asia), and the Yuan Dynasty (China).
Sons Divided
Ruled for 150 years
Last time nomadic peoples dominated sedentary peoples
Paradox of rule –
fierce fighters vs. tolerant/peaceful leaders**they really did tolerate
other faiths
The Mongol Empire was easy to organize before Chinggis Khan
True or False
False
Difficult to organize before Chinggis Khan
Divisions/rivalries
The nomadic world revolved around-
horse culture
Khan
astute political strategist/brilliant military commander
Horse culture-
Children ride from early age
Could even sleep/eat on horse
Animal power/seasonal migrations
Movable shelters
Mongol political organization-
Mongol society was kin and clan-based, with different tribes forming larger confederations when necessary, particularly for military campaigns or collective survival.
Gender balance in Mongol society-
Men dominated but women could influence tribes
Patriarchal meetings/home
Leadership qualities –
courage, alliance forging ability
Two events that lead to the following consensus of Chinggis Khan’s childhood.
Tough childhood
Born Temujin to tribal leader, but father poisoned
Imprisoned by rival clan, but escapes
What does Chinggis Khan do after escaping from a rivaling clan?
Makes alliance with another clan
Reputation as warrior/military commander attracted other clan chiefs
At a kuriltai meeting in 1206 –
Chinggis was named named khagan (extreme ruler)
What made Mongol fighters natural warriors?
trained from youth to ride/hunt
tough, mobile, accustomed to death
Mongol Weaponry
Variety of weapons – lances, hatchets, maces
Short bow the best – 400 yard range vs. 250 European
*Great technology”
Chinggis Khan’s leadership-
organization, discipline, unity
directed fighting spirit toward conquest
divided groups into tumens – think centurions of Rome
Messenger force –
Wore tight bandages to reduce fatigue, prevent injury, and provide support during long, strenuous rides.
Ride all day/night
What is an example of Mongol military discipline?
People were killed if they fled
What is an example of Mongol battle ethics?
Demonstrated generosity to brave opponents
This was a way to honor their courage, maintain a sense of honor, or even form alliances after conflict. It could involve giving gifts, offering safe passage, or showing respect for the valor shown in battle.
The Mongols had crappy maps
True or False
False
They utilized excellent maps
What new weapons did the Mongols come across? How?
New weapons – flaming arrows, gunpowder, siege weapons
Willing to adopt from conquered groups
The Mongol Empire Under Chinggis Khan ruled over ——- Mongols
½ million
The mongols greatest pleasure was-
warfare
For this society, warfare wasn’t just a necessity or duty—it was a source of pride, honor, and even personal enjoyment
The Mongols had fortified cities
True or False
True
What were some of the Mongols siege weapons?
rams, catapults, exploding balls
bamboo rockets
Mongols’ strategy of using fear as a psychological weapon-
They offered enemies a choice: surrender peacefully or face ruthless consequences.
Meant to terrify opponents into submission, effectively minimizing resistance by creating a reputation for terrifying retribution.
What was the “or else” in the Mongol’s threat?
slaughtered/sold townspeople
buildings turned to rubble
victims were forced to pay tribute
Muhammad Shah II
Mongols defeated this Turkik ruler
Turkik dude was to the west
Leader sent back envoys with heads shaved (Mongols destroyed with authority)
Most famous Mongol battle tactic
Fight
cavalry runs away
other army follows
heavy cavalry moves in
*FAKE retreat was a great plan
Mongol imperium rulers were-
Astute and tolerant
Open to new ideas
Wanted diverse peoples to live together in peace
Were Mongols interested in arts and the learning of conquered people?
indeed
Karakorum
New capital at Karakorum (created by Ogedei)
Wise and clever individuals from various cultures were welcomed as envoys
Which cultures did Mongols learn from?
Confucian scholars on how to rule China
Muslims – engineers and trade
Daoist holy men – elixir for immortality
All religions tolerated*****
The Mongol script
What is it?
Created as an effort to unify and formalize written communication across the empire
Despite a largely illiterate population, this script was an important step toward promoting literacy and record-keeping
Effects of The Mongol Script
Peace to much of Asia
Towns – handicraft production, scholarship, free expression
Secure trade routes
Force for major economic/social development
What events occured right before to Chinggis Khan’s death?
He lead 180,000 warriors to conquer China
But…got sick and died in 1227
What happened right after Chinggus Khan’s death?
Empire divided among 3 sons and Batu grandson
Carried back Khan’s body (Hunted/killed every animal/human in sight)
Ogedei
Ögedei Khan was the second ruler of the Mongol Empire. The third son of Genghis Khan, he continued the expansion of the empire that his father had begun
Not best warrior, but best diplomat
Golden Horde/Tartars
Assault on Russia side campaign
Main goals
1. fine tune war machine
2. get some money from booty
Why was the Golden Horde able to take Russia?
Russia divided into small kingdoms – don’t unite
Successful winter invasion-
1. Good for horse’s footing
2. Access over frozen rivers to enemies
When the Mongols went west, all in their way were slaughtered or led into slavery
True or False
True
Under Mongol Control, Russia was in ——
Bondage
Mongol Impact on Russia was mostly negative
(2 ½ centuries of Russia in bondage)
Effects of Russia being in bondage
Peasantry have to give up crops
i. Some flee to protection of ruling class – become serfs
Some Russian towns make profits
i. Increased trade
ii. Moscow – trade, tribute collector
Rulers made money and annexed other towns
Tributes!!!
Battle of Kulikova
The first victory for Russian forces over the Tatars of the Mongol Golden Horde
Turning point in Russia history
Effects of Battle of Kulikova-
Moscow grew
Orthodox church intensifies control
Changes in Russia’s military organization
Princes realize need to centralize control
Why did princes was to centralize control?
Reduce limitations put on power by nobility, clergy, merch
Russia’s isolation from Christian lands (Benefit and Negative)
Benefit – Russia protected from invasion from Europe
Negative – Cut off from key transformations in w. Europe
The Mongol Assault on the Islamic Heartland-
1258 – capture/destruction of Baghdad**destroyed the city
800,000 killed
Abbasid caliph
Effects Mongol Assault on the Islam-
ended dynasty that had ruled since 8 th century
left faith without central authority
devastated focal points/trading centers of Islamic civilization
Which Muslim group was enslaved by the Mongols, but later rose and defeated them? How?
Mamluk
Enslaved by Mongols – later defeated them
With cooperation with Christians
Three effects of Mongol influence in China?
Administered very strictly
Mongols retained distinct culture
Opened China to influences from Persian lands/contacts with Europe
Kubliai Khan
Assumed title of great khan/Yuan
Changed name of regime to Yuan – Yuan Dynasty***
Denied Chinese influence
Worked with Chinese on some issues
Kubliai Khan surrounded himself with-
Chinese advisors – Confucian, Buddhist,
Daoist
Yuan Dynasty Capital
Capital at Tatu – Beijing
Kubliai Khan did not introduce rituals and classic music into court
True or False
False
Kubliai Khan did introduce rituals and classic music into court
New social structure in Yuan Dynasty-
put Mongols on top
- Mongols
- Nomadic/Muslim allies
- North Chinese
- Ethnic Chinese/peoples from South
Gender Roles and the Convergence of Mongol and Chinese Culture: Women-
Refused to adopt footbinding*****
Women retained property rights
Destroyed vision of women as dainty, to be protected
Chabi – wife*** she was well respected
Rode to hunt
What’d Chabi do?
promoted Buddhist interests
reduced harsh treatment of Song captured
didn’t convert nearby farmland to pastureland
How did the Mongols open up China?
Curiosity/cosmopolitan tastes – opened China up
Brought scholars, artists, artisans
Muslims second social class
Examples of the Mongols welcoming travelers-
Polo family from Venice – Marco Polo
Marco Polo’s travel log created extreme interest in Asia**
Inspired European efforts in navigation
Alteration of social hierarchy in Mongol Chinese interlude-
Prevented scholar-gentry from taking positions – got rid of test
Bolstered position of artisans***
Merchants also prospered** (Mongols created war fleets/navies)
Help for peasants
How were cities impacted in the Mongol Chinese interlude-
Cities/sedentary lifestyles flourished – ironic
How were peasants helped in the Mongol Chinese interlude?
Doesn’t turn cropland into pasture land
Reduces taxes
Plan to establish elementary education – never goes through
Mongol aura of invincibility falters-
Lost to military lords of Japan
Song loyalists raised revolts in South
Frustrated/unsuccessful expeditions to Java/Vietnam
Softening of the ruling class-
Stop taking care of day to day work
Allowed corrupt Chinese/Muslims to run finances
Which group encouraged revolts against the Yuan?
Scholar-gentry encouraged revolts
How was piracy effected during the fall of the Yuan?
Banditry/piracy increases – can’t guarantee safety
Famine hit many regions in the fall of the Yuan
Ture or False
True
Who started the Ming Dynasty?
Man from poor peasant family – Ju Yuanzhang starts Ming dynasty***
Conquered the Mongols and kicked them out of China
Fall of Yuan Aftershock-
The Brief Ride of Timur***he was Turkish
Timur-I Lang
Timur the Lame*** Brought NO benefits…only destruction
Highly cultured person
Ruthless conqueror – atrocities – pyramid of skulls – tens thousands (Spared artisans/scientists to help build capital)
Upon death, empire falls apart
Last great challenge from nomads
Lasting changes of Mongols-
new ways of making war (gunpowder)
Facilitated trade
1. unprecedented trade of foods, tools, ideas
brought great wealth to traders – think Venice
Created urge for overseas expansion
Greatest impact of Mongols –
plagues***the trade network accidently led to the plague spreading
Fleas on livestock
Rats on ships that nibbled grain
Economic/social impact – 50% of some regions
Forced adjustments/change in economic/social roles to deal with
