MONGOL EMPIRE Geography

� Origin in Central Asia; steppes � North is the Siberian Forest � South is the Gobi Desert � Conquer outside of Central Asia to E. Europe,

Middle East, Russia and China � Stretches from Sea of Japan to Caspian Sea

(under Kublai Khan)

Religion � Originally, worshiped a god “Mongke Koko Tengri”

� Animal spirits (totems) � Mongols practiced tolerance

� Respect for others and their customs & beliefs � Believed that there was truth to each religion

� Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Christianity, Islam & Judaism

Achievements � Skilled Horsemanship

� Advantage over enemies � Hands free for weapons � Move quicker

� Military � Weapons; catapults & gunpowder � Army organized into units (chain of command) � Communication calls

� Cultural � Written language � Reopening of the Silk Road; exchange of ideas � Travelers can pass through freely � Missionaries welcomed

Politics � Patrilineal lineage (a woman can rule if husband dies)

� Main leader = KHAN � Conquers over large territory= Large Empire

� Stretches from China to E. Europe � Divided into 4 Khanates

� Golden Horde � E. Europe & W. Russia

� Ghagatai Khanate � Mid-Russia & Central Asia

� Ilkhan Khanate � Persia

� Khanate of Great Khan � China, Mongolia & E. Russia

� Laws against fighting among tribes

Economics

� Re-opening of the Silk Road � Empire open to merchants

� Internal & foreign trade possible � Postal Service Stations

� Communication & trade � Use of paper money (in China) & silver coins

Social Structure

� Clans � Family groups that form a tribe � Tribal Leader is the eldest male

� Gender Roles � Women- domestic chores

� Clothes � Food preparation “on the road”

� Men � Herders � Warriors