The Mongols and The Mongols and Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

Kublai KhanKublai Khan(Grandson of Genghis) (Grandson of Genghis)

The The Pax MongolicaPax Mongolica(Mongol Peace)(Mongol Peace)

• Under Mongol control, trade Under Mongol control, trade flourished throughout Eurasia.flourished throughout Eurasia.

• The old trade networks were revived The old trade networks were revived and travel through these networks and travel through these networks was considered to be very safe. was considered to be very safe.

Marco PoloMarco Polo

How did Marco Polo’s journey How did Marco Polo’s journey help inspire Europeans to think help inspire Europeans to think Globally?Globally?

• Marco Polo’s accounts of his adventures Marco Polo’s accounts of his adventures through Eurasia, revealed how advanced through Eurasia, revealed how advanced and luxurious the east had become. and luxurious the east had become. These accounts aroused Europeans These accounts aroused Europeans curiosity about the east and created a curiosity about the east and created a desire for the luxuries he had described.desire for the luxuries he had described.

The Gunpowder EmpiresThe Gunpowder Empires(~1450-1650)(~1450-1650)

What happens when an empire has access to technology which other people don’t possess?

Gunpowder EmpiresGunpowder Empires

Empires which arose in Islamic Empires which arose in Islamic Eurasia, which possessed new technology Eurasia, which possessed new technology (cannons, muskets, etc.) which helped them (cannons, muskets, etc.) which helped them control large and diverse empires with control large and diverse empires with powerful centralized governments.powerful centralized governments.

3 Main Gunpowder Empires3 Main Gunpowder Empires

• The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire

• The Safavid EmpireThe Safavid Empire

• The Mughal (Moghal) EmpireThe Mughal (Moghal) Empire

The OttomansThe Ottomans

• Turkish nomadic people from Central Turkish nomadic people from Central Asia (like the Seljuk Turks).Asia (like the Seljuk Turks).

• Expanded through Asia Minor.Expanded through Asia Minor.

• 1453 – Used cannons to blast holes in 1453 – Used cannons to blast holes in Constantinople’s defenses and Constantinople’s defenses and capture it. Renamed it capture it. Renamed it IstanbulIstanbul..

The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire• The Ottomans established an empire which The Ottomans established an empire which

would last off and on until World War I would last off and on until World War I ended (1918).ended (1918).

• Adopted Sunni Islam as their religious and Adopted Sunni Islam as their religious and government (Sharia law) organization.government (Sharia law) organization.

• Very tolerant of the many religious groups Very tolerant of the many religious groups within their empire. (Jews, Christians, etc.)within their empire. (Jews, Christians, etc.)

• Controlled the link between European and Controlled the link between European and Asian trade.Asian trade.

The JanizariesThe Janizaries

The Safavid Empire The Safavid Empire (Early 1500’s – 1722)(Early 1500’s – 1722)

• Controlled much of the old Persian Controlled much of the old Persian empire. (modern day Iran)empire. (modern day Iran)

• Sandwiched between the other two Sandwiched between the other two Gunpowder empires.Gunpowder empires.

• Also Muslim, but Shiites.Also Muslim, but Shiites.– Led to conflicts between them and their Led to conflicts between them and their

Ottoman Sunni neighbors.Ottoman Sunni neighbors.

Controlled the highly demanded Controlled the highly demanded silk trade.silk trade.

• Non tolerance of other religions led Non tolerance of other religions led to rebellions which would to rebellions which would eventually end the Safavid empire.eventually end the Safavid empire.

• However, Iran is still a strongly However, Iran is still a strongly Shiite controlled nation.Shiite controlled nation.

The Mughal EmpireThe Mughal Empire(1526-1857)(1526-1857)

• Modern day India, Pakistan, and Modern day India, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan.parts of Afghanistan.

• Muslim armies had moved into the Muslim armies had moved into the Indus Valley in AD 711.Indus Valley in AD 711.

• Established Muslim Sultanates. Established Muslim Sultanates. (Sultans = Muslim rulers)(Sultans = Muslim rulers)

Muslim and Hindus ClashMuslim and Hindus Clash

• Obvious differences between Hindus Obvious differences between Hindus and Muslims led to religious clashes.and Muslims led to religious clashes.– However, many Hindus converted to However, many Hindus converted to

Islam to escape the caste system.Islam to escape the caste system.– 1526 – Muslim Mongol and Turkish 1526 – Muslim Mongol and Turkish

armies moved in and established the armies moved in and established the Mughal Empire. (Mughal = Persian for Mughal Empire. (Mughal = Persian for Mongol).Mongol).

– Mughal leaders controlled the lucrative Mughal leaders controlled the lucrative and important Indian trade.and important Indian trade.

1947 - Pakistan is created due to tensions 1947 - Pakistan is created due to tensions between Muslims and Hindus. 1971 Civil War between Muslims and Hindus. 1971 Civil War turns east Pakistan into Bangladesh.turns east Pakistan into Bangladesh.

Overarching Question??Overarching Question??• How did the establishment of the Islamic How did the establishment of the Islamic

Gunpowder Empires affect Europeans?Gunpowder Empires affect Europeans?– These new and powerful empires controlled all of These new and powerful empires controlled all of

the key overland trade routes from Asia to Europe. the key overland trade routes from Asia to Europe.

• The Ottomans controlled the ends of the routes.The Ottomans controlled the ends of the routes.

• The Safavids controlled the Silk road and thus The Safavids controlled the Silk road and thus the Silk trade.the Silk trade.

• The Mughals controlled the important Indian The Mughals controlled the important Indian trade.trade.

• If European Christians wanted the luxuries of If European Christians wanted the luxuries of the east, they would have to go through the the east, they would have to go through the Muslim middle-men.Muslim middle-men.