The MongolsThe Mongols

I. BackgroundI. BackgroundA.A. The Mongols were The Mongols were nomads nomads from the from the

eastern Asian steppe (fields). They eastern Asian steppe (fields). They lived in lived in clansclans (family groups). (family groups).

A.A. In 1206, a clan In 1206, a clan leader named leader named Temujin unified the Temujin unified the Mongols Mongols

B.B. He took the title He took the title Genghis KhanGenghis Khan, , or or “universal ruler.”“universal ruler.”

II. UnificationII. Unification

According to legend, Temujin was born with a According to legend, Temujin was born with a blood clot in his fist. In his lifetime, his hands blood clot in his fist. In his lifetime, his hands were covered with the blood of others. When were covered with the blood of others. When Temujin was about nine, the Tatars, a rival Temujin was about nine, the Tatars, a rival clan, poisoned his father. When in manhood, he clan, poisoned his father. When in manhood, he fought and defeated the Tatars, slaughtering fought and defeated the Tatars, slaughtering every male taller than a cart axel.every male taller than a cart axel.

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III. “War Machine”III. “War Machine”

A.A. Mongols were skilled horsemen Mongols were skilled horsemen

B.B. Use many weapons and learned Use many weapons and learned to use to use canons canons from the Chinesefrom the Chinese

C. Strategy-C. Strategy-1. Mock retreats tricked the 1. Mock retreats tricked the enemyenemy2. Flag signals2. Flag signals3. Terrified enemies into 3. Terrified enemies into

surrendersurrender

If a city refused to open its gates to him, he If a city refused to open its gates to him, he might kill the entire population upon might kill the entire population upon

capturecapture

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Mongol armies used a Mongol armies used a system of signal flags system of signal flags during battle. The black during battle. The black and white flags sent and white flags sent orders to Mongol units orders to Mongol units who moved swiftly who moved swiftly while overwhelming while overwhelming their disorganized their disorganized opponents. At night, opponents. At night, lanterns and flaming lanterns and flaming arrows were used in arrows were used in place of flags.place of flags.

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Each Mongol soldier Each Mongol soldier wore a long silk wore a long silk undershirt. When hit undershirt. When hit with an arrow, he could with an arrow, he could remove it by carefully remove it by carefully pulling on the silk, which pulling on the silk, which usually entered the usually entered the wound with the arrow. wound with the arrow. Upon witnessing Upon witnessing Mongols pulling arrows Mongols pulling arrows from their bodies, some from their bodies, some became convinced that became convinced that the Mongols were the Mongols were superhuman!superhuman!

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Mongol soldiers often Mongol soldiers often died of infection from died of infection from battle wounds caused, battle wounds caused, in part, to poor in part, to poor hygiene. Mongol hygiene. Mongol warriors rarely warriors rarely washed. When they washed. When they did, they used urine did, they used urine from their horses. from their horses. Their clothing was Their clothing was often worn until it often worn until it literally rotted off.literally rotted off.

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IV. Vast EmpireIV. Vast EmpireA.A. The Mongols conquered much of The Mongols conquered much of

Eurasia.Eurasia.

By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge empire into four regions, or empire into four regions, or khanateskhanates..

A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate.A descendant of Genghis ruled each khanate.

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B. While ferocious warriors, the Mongols B. While ferocious warriors, the Mongols werewere tolerant tolerant rulers.rulers.

V. The Pax MongoliaV. The Pax MongoliaA.A. Mongol PeaceMongol Peace

B.B. The Mongols provided stability and The Mongols provided stability and order across Eurasia.order across Eurasia.

C.C. Traders and travelers enjoyed safety Traders and travelers enjoyed safety along the Silk Road.along the Silk Road.

D.D. The plague also spread through trade The plague also spread through trade between Europe and Asia.between Europe and Asia.

VI. Kublai KhanVI. Kublai KhanA.A. Genghiz Khan’s grandson, who Genghiz Khan’s grandson, who founded founded

the the Yuan dynasty Yuan dynasty in China.in China.

B.B. He reserved gov’t jobs for Mongols. He reserved gov’t jobs for Mongols. The Chinese resented this.The Chinese resented this.

The walls were covered with gold and The walls were covered with gold and silver and the Dining Hall was so large silver and the Dining Hall was so large that it could easily dine 6,000 people. that it could easily dine 6,000 people. The palace was made of cane The palace was made of cane supported by 200 silk cords, which supported by 200 silk cords, which could be taken to pieces and could be taken to pieces and transported easily when the Emperor transported easily when the Emperor moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud of 10,000 white horses, whose milk was of 10,000 white horses, whose milk was reserved for his family and for a tribe reserved for his family and for a tribe which had won a victory for Genghis which had won a victory for Genghis Khan. Khan.

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D. Marco Polo, an Italian merchant, traveled to the Yuan Dynasty, stayed for 17 years and interested Europeans to trade more with Asia.

VII. DeclineVII. DeclineA.A. Lands were too large and diverse to Lands were too large and diverse to

govern effectively.govern effectively.

B.B. Mongols had little experience in gov’t.Mongols had little experience in gov’t.

C.C. The Mongols got pushed back The Mongols got pushed back behind the Great Wall by the Ming behind the Great Wall by the Ming dynasty.dynasty.

D.D. Russia resented the Mongols for Russia resented the Mongols for centuries of isolationcenturies of isolation

Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireTextbook – page 309Textbook – page 309

From From World History: Connections to Today World History: Connections to Today Prentice Hall, Prentice Hall, 20032003