Unit 7: Mongolia Flashcards
Describe the relationship between the Mongols and the Song/Jin of northern China. How did this relationship lead to armed conflict between these groups? (Think about the origins of Ghengis Khan)
Someone from China poisoned Genghas Khan’s dad causing him to want to get revenge on them
Describe the social and political structure of the Mongol hordes, including the differences in gender roles between men and women. (Look back to your stations and the documentary that was posted on Google classroom)
Khan was at the top
Women enjoyed more rights in the Mongol Empire because of nomadic life
Women were often kidnapped though
Describe the military tactics used by the Mongols during the reign of Ghengis Khan. How did these tactics allow for the Mongols to quickly overwhelm their enemies?
Saddle and stirrup → made warfare on horseback easier/more efficient
Cavalry → Speed in battle
Biological Warfare(Catapulting dead bodies plagued with the bubonic plague)
How did the Mongols maintain control over conquered people? Think about their military structure, treatment of conquered regions, and the yam system.
They had a strong military, they treated their conquered regions well and let them practice their cultures, the yam system led to increased communication
How did the Mongols’ reign come to be known as the Pax Mongolica? How did this time impact interregional trade?
Was able to travel safely across eurasia for the first time
Mongols protect and spread commerce
Trade
Silk road
What factors led to the dissolution of the Great Khanate into smaller Khanates after the death of Genghis Khan?
There was no heir to the throne
How did Kublai Khan’s reign of the Yuan dynasty continue the traditions and cultural values of prior Chinese dynasties?
He kept the same government structure and continued practicing old philosophies like confucianism.
How did Kublai Khan’s reign of the Yuan dynasty alter the traditions and cultural values of prior Chinese dynasties?
Created new trade links
They changed the style of chinese paintings and started the widespread introduction of blue and white decorated porcelain
Jingdezhen became the most important center of porcelain manufacture
What foreign cultural practices and religions entered China during the Yuan dynasty? Why were these practices utilized? (Look at the readings on the three Khanates, as well as the projects from your classmates)
Daoism became popular. Political stability
What aspects of Islamic life and culture drove the Mongols to convert to Islam? How were these practices utilized in other regions of the Empire? (See your reading on the Khanate and your classmate’s projects)
The Mongols’ conversion to Islam was influenced by factors like intermarriage, economic self-interest, and political allegiance, and the spread of Islamic culture through trade and interaction. In other regions, the Mongols utilized Islamic practices in governance, administration, and scholarship, while also integrating elements of local cultures.
What were some of the short term impacts of Persian resistance to the Mongols?
It led to mass destruction of cities and massacres of over 200,000 people
What were some of the long term impacts of Mongol occupation on Persia and the Mongols themselves?
Many cities in Persia were still destroyed, but many mongols converted to Islam
Consider the geography of the Mongol Empire. How did the Mongols reconnect the east and the west?
Yam system: Series of relay stations and messaging routes that increases communication and control
Consider the historical context of the time period. What was Europe like during the time of the Mongol conquests and rule in Russia? Consider the political landscape of Europe.
Europe was in a feudal state with lords really holding the real power and the Pope. This was a decentralized time in Europe
How did the Mongols reign in Russia continue the traditions and cultural values of prior Russian rulers?
Continued the Autocratic rule, preservation of orthodox christianity, government structures
How did the Mongols reign over Russia alter the traditions and cultural values of prior Russian rulers?
They shifted toward autocracy and centralization
Why are the Mongols seen as diffusers of culture? Provide specific examples from the khanates.
The Mongols are seen as diffusers of cultures because of their vast empire, stretching from China to Eastern Europe, facilitated the exchange of ideas across different regions. Their promotion of trade, religious tolerance, and administrative integration allowed diverse cultures to interact and influence each other.
Why are the Mongols seen as destroyers of culture? Provide specific examples from the khanates.
The extreme violence, massacres, and widespread devastation that happened during their conquests
What role did the Mongols play in the spread of the Bubonic Plague in Europe?
Catapulted infected corpses over Kaffa’s wall, spreading diseases
This spread the black death
Genoese ships brought the black death to mediterranean places
Killed a third of the world’s population
Spread through silk road
What type of Government was the Mongolian Empire (Like how there is republican and democracy in the U.S.)
Meritocracy
What does meritocracy mean
Promoted people based on loyalty and skill
Who does Genghis Khan unite
Nomadic tribes in Mongolia
What does Mongolia do to people/places that resist
They destroy them
What do they do to the civil service exam in China
They end it
How big was Mongolia
The largest contiguous empire in the world
