The Mongol Conquests

Early nomadic empires of Inner Asia

Xiongnu, 209 BC-155 AD

Huns (Attila), 5th c. AD

Eurasian Ecological Zones

*Steppe

*Chinggis (Ghengis) Khan ("oceanic king," ca. 1167-1227)

Born Temujin

Father poisoned, 1175

Childhood of hardship

Teenage leader of nökürs

Alliances

Marriage politics

Warfare

Tatars, 1196

Annihilation or slavery

*Khuriltai (assembly), 1206

Chinggis Khan, “Oceanic King”

Chinggis Khan Memorial and Museum

Conquests

Capital at Qaraqorum (Karakorum)

Skaff at Karakorum archaeological site in 2016 with Dr. Jan Bemmann, head of Mongolian-German Karakorum Expedition

Theories about success of Mongol armies

Personal ability of Chinggis Khan

Chinggis Khan Memorial, Mongolia

Quality of the Mongol soldiers

Military organization, planning, discipline

Reorganization of tribes

Units of 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 (tumen)

Willingness to employ conquered peoples

*Turks: Cavalry

China, Russia, and Iran: infantry, sieges

Tactics of terror

Bukhara

Effects of conquests

Devastation of agriculture

Ecological impact

1 tumen=10,000 men, 150,000 horses, 1,500,000 sheep

Tax policies

Irregular taxation until ca. 1250

Reforms of Mongke (r. 1251-9)

Silk Routes regulated

Increased trade

*Marco Polo

Exchanges of science and technology

Gunpowder

Lecture Study Questions

1. What was the nature of Mongol society and their way of life?

2. What lands did the Mongols initially conquer? What prevented a quick Mongol conquest of the Jin (Jurchen) in North China? How did the Mongols react when they conquered cities and agricultural lands?

3. What theories have been given to explain Mongol success in creating the largest land empire in world history prior to 1500? Which of these reasons do you believe are most persuasive?

Reading Study Questions

Reading: Hansen, et al., 322-332, 339-341, 345

1. How did the Mongols' nomadic way of life contribute to their success as conquerors?

2. Who was William of Rubruck? How was he able to cross Eurasia to visit the Mongol capital? Based on William of Rubruck's travels, what bound the different sectors of the Mongol Empire together? Give specific examples based on William's journey.

3. What caused Mongol Empire's breakup into four sectors in the 1260s?

Supplementary Reading on D2L>Content:

22) William of Rubruck, Journey to the Land of the Tartars

1. Based on Rubruck's description, how did the Mongols live and obtain food to eat? How was work divided between husbands and wives?

2. How were marriages arranged? Based on Rubruck's description, what was the status of women among the Mongols?