The Mongol Empire conquered a vast territory from Central Asia to Eastern Europe during the 1200s-1300s. Led by Chinggis Khan, the Mongols had a highly organized military that allowed them to defeat large empires. Though the Mongols did not make many technological or cultural contributions, their empire temporarily united much of Eurasia and facilitated an increased exchange of goods and ideas. After Chinggis Khan's death, the Mongol Empire was divided among his descendants and their khanates. The Mongols established stability and trade but are also blamed for spreading plague throughout their conquered lands.

1. Mongol Conquests and Empire
1200s - 1300s
Mongol Conquests and Empire
1200s - 1300s

2. “The greatest happiness is to scatter your
enemy, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to
see those who love him shrouded in tears,
and to carry off his wives and daughters.”
Temujin
(a.k.a. Chinggis Khan)
(a.k.a. Genghis Khan)

3. Generally speaking, the
Mongols:
• Had few technological breakthroughs
• Spread no new religions
• Wrote few books and plays
• Brought no new crops or agricultural
methods
• Left few artifacts and buildings
• Didn’t hold on to an empire very long

4. According to many
perspectives in different
times, the Mongols:
•were destroyers of
civilizations
•were ruthless
uncivilized barbarians
•were evil forces
against Christians,
Buddhists, Confucians,
or Muslims

5. They created the largest land-based
empire in human history.

6. Central Asian
Nomads
• Social Classes – based on abilities
• Women had greater status than in most settled
regions.
• Leaders were “elected” by the free men of the
clan, tribe, or confederation. (Kuriltai-Meeting
of all Mongol Chieftains)

7. Conquests
• Under the leadership of
Chinggis Khan, the
combination of Mongol
discipline, technology,
strategy, and ruthlessness
helped the Mongols take
control of Central Asia, then
Northern China.
• By Chinggis Khan’s death in
1220s, Mongol armies had
moved west into the Islamic
lands and Central Europe.

9. Conquests
• After Chinggis Khan’s death, the
Mongol Empire was divided in four
parts controlled by 3 sons and a
grandson.
• Khanate of the Golden Horde
• Ilkanate
• Djagatai (Chagtai)
• Khanate of the Great Khan (and
Yuan dynasty)

11. THE MONGOL EMPIREs
• Each KHANATE or kingdom then
worked to add territory and tributary
states to the empire which continued
under later Mongol leaders.
• Mongol control eventually spread into
Western Europe, the Middle East, North
Africa and all of China.
• The ruling class who survived often
continued to control aspects of their
territory under the “supervision” of
Mongol rulers.

12. IMPACT of the MONGOLS
• A period of “peace” and stability in
many areas of Eurasia led to economic
and social development (100 years?).
A.K.A. The MONGOL PEACE

13. Trade
Mongol rulers . . .
• ordered construction of roads and
BRIDGES, and extended the Grand Canal
in China
• set up post offices/trading posts
• protected merchants, gave them a higher
status and set up merchant associations
• allowed an “exchange of food, tools, goods,
and ideas [that] was unprecedented.”

15. Religious & Cultural Tolerance
• Mongol rulers offered tax benefits to all
religious leaders
• Muslims were brought to China to help
with administration & Christians & Jews
worked in other posts of the Mongol
governments
• There was some cultural exchange (&
some religious conversion)

16. Did Marco Polo’s journey lead
to European explorations and
their results?

17. Also
The Mongols made an impact by . . .
• adapting the use of gunpowder,
improving it, and spreading its use.
• spreading the Bubonic Plague (the
Black Death)
• Creating a situation in which new
groups could take control of territories
after the Mongols retreated (Ottoman
Turks)