Genghis (Chinggis) Khan (Universal Ruler) / Temujin

• Rise to power illustrates the fluidity of nomadic society

• Unifies all the tribes, but he needed enemies, pillage to keep unity

Elements of military success• Mobilization of

complete male population – high status of women in tribal societies made this possible

• Bow of Mongols was particularly good – accurate at very high range

Elements of military success

• Horse culture; Each Mongol in battle would have 5 horses at the start of a campaign.

• “Shock and awe” – ruthless or merciful• Flexible in learning new tactics: learned seige

warfare, used gunpowder, built a navy• Raids and pillages first across Central Asia, city-

states, regional kingdoms – outnumbered but not by that much

Conquests of Genghis Khan – Central Asia, not the high population areas

Elements of Mongol military success

• A vacuum into which the Mongols moved over the course of three generations – 80 years

• All their opponents were in state of decline:– Central Asia – Shahs ruling independent city-states

were easist pickings– China – 2 different empires; conquered the easiest one

first; armed by Song to fight Jurchens; several decades before an attempt to conquer the Song

– Russia – many principalities– Abbasid Empire – in decline

The Mongol Khanates

The Four Khanates• China – Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)• Golden Horde – Russia (1240-1450)

– No direct control – no assimilation or change in Russian culture

– Extraction of tribute from Russian princes– Turns Russia away from west, Catholism, development

• Il-khanate – Persia (1258 – 1350) – End of Abbasid Empire– Destruction of much of economy– Direct rule– Adopt Muslim religion, assimilate to Persian traditions

• Chagatai – Central Asia