2. The Mongols were a nomadic
people from the Steppes of
Central Asia.
They were organized into
different tribes. Each tribe
had it’s own chief called a
Khan.
The Mongols herded horses,
sheep, goats, camels and
yacks.
The Mongols –The People
3. The Mongols lived in foldable houses called
yurts. Very similar to the Plains Indians in
North America.
The Mongols -Lifestyle
4. They had few personal
possessions. The most
important possession was
a man’s horses.
Life was simple but tough.
The Mongols - Lifestyle
5. The Mongols - Religion
The Mongols were Shamanistic
They believed in spirits and had “holy
men” called Shamans who interpreted
signs from nature to help determine
what to do.
The Mongols - Lifestyle
6. The Mongols - Government
Each Tribe was ruled by a
chief called a Khan.
Each Khan ruled over a
Khanate ( area of land )
Occasionally the tribes
would unite under 1 Khan
called a Genghis Khan.
This never lasted long
because of the constant
fights, arguments and
perceived insults from one
tribe to another.
7. The Mongols – The “Genghis Khan”Temujin Borjigin
Born about 1162 AD
2nd Son of the Khan of the Kiyad Tribe
Arranged marriage at age 9
Sent to live with future wife’s family
Father poisoned
Temujin returned to tribe to become leader
but was rejected in favor of older brother
At age 12 murdered ½ brother with help
from his older brother
Captured by enemy tribe at age 15
Held prisoner but escaped
Earned a reputation
8. The Mongols – The “Genghis Khan”
About the year 1206 AD, Temujin united
the Mongol tribes together and was the
one chief – Genghis Khan – (Great
Chief).
Temujin knew the only way to keep the
tribes together was to keep them busy.
This meant raiding and attacking their
enemies.
By 1227 AD, The Mongols under Genghis
Khan created the largest land empire in
human history.
11. The Mongols – Mobil Warriors
The Mongols were highly disciplined:
Vandalizing and stealing was forbidden.
A warrior had two horses.
He could ride while sleeping.
When food ran out a Mongol warrior
would drink the blood of his horse.
Used deception, spies and terror were all
Acceptable tools to win. Winning is what
counted.
Used a small composite bow with
incredible hitting power.
“Ride as if
there is no
yesterday,
only a
tomorrow.
Ride
towards
your next
victory not
12. The Mongols – Mobil Warriors
Fear and intimidation were weapons used by the Mongol to speed their
conquest. Many cities and territories surrendered based on the stories they
had heard about the Mongols.
13. The Mongols – Empire to Khanates
In 1227, after just 21 years, The Genghis Khan
died (two theories how).
Disagreements broke out between his
grandchildren. Which of his son’s families should
rule.
There wear also disagreements about the nature
of the new empire. Should it be sedentary
cosmopolitan based on cities and states or
should it be like the original Mongol Khanates,
nomadic?
After a purge of his relatives, Toluid became the
Genghis Khan and the empire continued to
expand until 1279.
“My life was too short
to achieve the conquest
of the whole world” – G.
Khan
14. The Mongols – Empire to Khanates
In 1279, the Mongol
Empire ended.
The Empire was divided
into 4 separate
Khanates.
The largest and most
powerful was the
Khanate of the Great
Khan (Kublai Khan).
15. The Mongols – Empire to Khanates
The Mongols did not care about scientific
or technological advancement.
Trade and making money were the priority.
Mongols traded / spread technology from
the East (China) to the West.
Laws were passed to protect merchants.
Passports were issued to merchants
traveling from one Khanate to another.
The Silk Road became a major trade route
between East and West.
16. The Mongols – Kublai Khan
Temujin’s grandson completes the conquest of
China in 1279.
He established the Yuan Dynasty.
Allowed the Chinese to keep their culture and
embraced it himself.
He welcomed trade and foreign travelers to his
court.
He patronized the arts.
Increased trade with the West.
17. The Mongols – The Rus
The Rus – (modern day Russia) were
independent city-states ruled by an
assortment of princes.
The Mongols invaded in 1223AD and
defeated the individual cities.
The Rus cities were forced to pay
tributes yearly to the Mongols and were
now part of the Golden Hord.
The Rus remained subjugated to the
Mongols until 1480AD.
18. The Mongols
The Results
Positive
Pax Mongolia – peace within the
Mongol world for 100 years.
Increased Trade – Europe gained
consumer goods and technology from
the East.
Transfer of scientific knowledge
Gives Europe a chance to “catch up” to
Asia and the Middle East.
Negative
Spread of disease – the “Plague” and
other illnesses only in Asia spread.
An end to scientific advancement in
Asia and the Middle East.
Destruction of cities
Loss of knowledge – burning of libraries
and universities.
