The Mongols created the largest land-based empire in human history under the leadership of Chinggis Khan in the 1200s-1300s. The Mongols conquered Central Asia and Northern China initially, then expanded west into Islamic lands and Central Europe. The Mongol Empire was later divided into four khanates or kingdoms that continued expanding the empire into Western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and all of China. While the Mongols brought death and destruction during their conquests, the resulting "Mongol peace" led to increased trade and cultural exchange along revived Silk Roads for approximately 100 years.

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

2. From nomads to world conquerors

4. The Mongols created the largest landbased empire in human history.

5. Mongols and
other Central
Asian Nomads
characteristics
• 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)

6. Quote of the Day
“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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

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. 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 China)

14. IMPACT of the MONGOLS
• Death & Destruction!
•
But then . . . THE MONGOL PEACE
A period of “peace” and stability in many
areas of Eurasia led to economic and
cultural development (for about 100 years).

15. Trade & Infrastructure
Mongol rulers . . .
• protected travel and trade routes in the
Empire
• “caused” people to move to new places for
Mongol government and military posts
• ordered construction of roads & BRIDGES,
& extended the Grand Canal in China
• set up post offices/trading posts

16. SILK ROADs REVIVED!
• Chinese goods and ideas flowed!
• East and West were more connected
• Plants and crops circulated
“Mongol rule allowed an “exchange of food,
tools, goods, and ideas [that] was
unprecedented.”

18. Those dirty Mongols!
•
Spread the use of gunpowder in military uses
•
Destroyed empires, governments, & towns (&
killed millions)
•
Spread the Bubonic Plague (Black Death)
beginning in the 1330s and lasting for several
decades.
(and Mongol culture didn’t have a major
cultural impact on the culture of settled
civilizations)

19. MARCO . . . POLO
Venetian merchant who traveled and
lived in Mongol territory for 20 years including almost 17 years
working for Kublai Khan – the Mongol ruler of China.

20. MARCO . . . POLO writes about the
Central Asia Nomads
• Write a SOAP analysis in your notebook for Marco
Polo.
– Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose
– WHAT CAUSED Marco Polo to have the point of view he
had on the Mongols?
• Analyze similarities between the Mongols and other
civilizations and write them in your notebook.
For example: Both the Mongols and Arabs were nomadic.
• Write the most unusual characteristics of the Mongols as
reported by Marco Polo.

21. MARCO . . . POLO writes about the
Central Asia Nomads
• Marco Polo wrote this account many years after his
trip so his recollections may not be completely
accurate after years. He may exaggerate certain
elements to make a better story.
• The many details that Marco Polo uses in his
description show that his point of view is based on a
long period of living with and interacting with the
Mongols.
• Marco Polo’s purpose in telling his story was simply
to record the events he remembered for other
European elites. This probably caused him be as
accurate as possible. He may, however, have
focused on things that he thought might impress
Europeans who read the journal.