Nomads of the Asian Nomads of the Asian SteppesSteppes

Asian SteppesAsian SteppesSteppe: Vast Steppe: Vast stretch of stretch of grassland – spreads grassland – spreads across Asia for across Asia for thousands of milesthousands of miles

Nomadic people Nomadic people roamed the roamed the steppessteppes

Temperature Temperature extremes: -57° to extremes: -57° to 96°F96°F

Mongol NomadsMongol Nomads

Many nomads Many nomads roamed on roamed on horseback – lived horseback – lived together in clans together in clans (kinship groups)(kinship groups)

The Rise of the MongolsThe Rise of the Mongols

Mongol clan leader Mongol clan leader named Temujin named Temujin defeated rivals defeated rivals across Mongolian across Mongolian steppe – took name steppe – took name of “Genghis Khan” of “Genghis Khan” or ‘universal ruler’or ‘universal ruler’ Spent 21 years Spent 21 years conquering much conquering much of Asiaof Asia

Genghis Khan’s “Reign of Terror”Genghis Khan’s “Reign of Terror”

““In retribution for every hair on their In retribution for every hair on their heads it seemed that a hundred heads it seemed that a hundred thousand heads rolled in the dust”thousand heads rolled in the dust”

Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

Sought revenge Sought revenge against other tribes against other tribes & Muslim & Muslim neighbors – neighbors – ruthless ruthless tactics/slaughtered tactics/slaughtered thousandsthousands Created largest Created largest unified land empire unified land empire in history (from in history (from China to Poland)China to Poland)

The Mongol Empire - KhanatesThe Mongol Empire - Khanates

Genghis Khan

Ogadai(Genghis Khan’s son)

Kublai Khana.k.a. the ‘Great Khan’

(Genghis Khan’s grandson)

The KhanatesThe KhanatesEach Khanate ruled a portion of the Each Khanate ruled a portion of the empireempire

Kublai Khan“The Great Khan”Mongolia & China

Khan of Persia Khan of Russia Khan of CentralAsia

Khanate of the “Great Khan”Chagatai

Khanate

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Ilkhanate of Persia

The Khanates of the Mongol The Khanates of the Mongol EmpireEmpire

Khanates were effective leaders (similar to Khanates were effective leaders (similar to province system of earlier civilizations)province system of earlier civilizations)At first – destroyed land & irrigation of At first – destroyed land & irrigation of enemies --> became very fearedenemies --> became very fearedEventually adopted culture from many Eventually adopted culture from many areas --> ruled with stability, law & orderareas --> ruled with stability, law & order The Pax Mongolica “Mongol Peace” (1200-The Pax Mongolica “Mongol Peace” (1200-

1300) had stability, trade, & exchange of 1300) had stability, trade, & exchange of ideasideas

Problems for Kublai KhanProblems for Kublai Khan

Khan was once told by an advisor:Khan was once told by an advisor:““I have heard that one can conquer the I have heard that one can conquer the empire on horseback, but one cannot empire on horseback, but one cannot govern it on horseback”govern it on horseback”

Kublai Khan’s ruleKublai Khan’s rule

Government run by Mongols, but the Government run by Mongols, but the population was overwhelmingly Chinesepopulation was overwhelmingly ChineseDistrust led to lack of Chinese influence in Distrust led to lack of Chinese influence in governmentgovernment BUT…this distrust led to a HUGE foreign BUT…this distrust led to a HUGE foreign

influence in China – includinginfluence in China – includingArab Muslims, Indians, Persians, and Christian Arab Muslims, Indians, Persians, and Christian EuropeansEuropeansOne European to visit & trade: Marco PoloOne European to visit & trade: Marco Polo

Marco Polo questionsMarco Polo questions

Who was Marco Who was Marco Polo?Polo?Where was he from?Where was he from?What was he doing in What was he doing in China?China?Why did Kublai Khan Why did Kublai Khan employ him?employ him?

Marco Polo – Accurate story or Marco Polo – Accurate story or ‘made up’?‘made up’?

What are the problems with the primary What are the problems with the primary source account that you have just read? source account that you have just read? In other words, what makes it not In other words, what makes it not believable?believable?What makes this account “believable”?What makes this account “believable”?