Mongols



ESPIRIT - Genghis Khan

M.I - In the Mongol Empire, there is a view of Mongol conquests reviving once great trade routes such as the Silk Road. || M.I - Very little social structure developed during the Mongol Empire since life was still somewhat based off clans. || M.I - During the Mongol Empire, there was no defined government control other than under the ruling of the khagen. || M.I- The Mongol Empire was formed due to many successful conquests on China, the Islamic World, Russia and Western Europe although these areas were much larger and technological, the Mongols were able to adapt to certain situations and make use of it. Mongol conquests enabled interactions on a global scale between all conquered areas. || M.I- Although no main religion was established or created during the Mongol Empire, the fact that the empire had religious tolerance allowed some religions to grow while under the Mongol Empire. || M.I- Under the rule of Genghis Khan, there were no strict laws enforcing religions but instead in the Mongol Empire, all religions were allowed to be practiced. || M.I - Many technological advances that occurred during the Mongol Empire were basically focused on new weapons that allowed quick takeovers of empires. ||
 * E || * manufacturing and commerce thrived in the Mongol Empire when skilled artisans were spared and brought to the capital to spread their skills
 * revival of the Silk Road along with many cities along it
 * beginning of the empire
 * agricultural based economy where food was grown/traded along with clothing
 * conquest of Muslim Empire was the main force in the development of economy
 * peace was brought throughout empire = safer trade routes
 * S || * Mongol warriors "trained" since children -> riding saddles and to become warriors and skilled in weapons
 * base unit of Mongol society was a tribe which was divided into kin-related clans
 * great confederations formed by multiple clans during times of "danger"
 * duration of confederation depended on either the power of the leaders and how long the threat lasts
 * P || * Genghis Khan's rise to power
 * his grandfather dies and alliance cannot be maintained -> his father was poisoned by a rival clan -> Genghis Khan was leader of clan at a young age = no trust from chiefs -> rival clans capture/defeat Genghis Khan and enslave him
 * joins a powerful Mongol camp after escaping rival clan and destroyed clan that enslaved him and clans that took advantage of him
 * 1206 - at a **kuriltai**, Genghis Khan was elected the **khagen**
 * administrative framework devised on Muslim and Chinese bureaucracy
 * after death of Genghis Khan, empire was divided for sons but **Ogedi**, the third son became the grand khan
 * I || * Mongol conquest of Khwarazm = destruction of the kingdom (most violent conquest)
 * war was declared on Genghis Khan by Muhammad Shah, who later fled after Mongol assault
 * Mongol explosion = foundation for human interaction on a global scale
 * Mongol army among the best armed/trained mobile solders in the world in the 13th century
 * army divided into **tumens** which were also divided smaller where leaders were responsible for the training of each small army
 * networks of spies created and new units created depending on certain needs
 * first campaigns were against large fortified cities
 * adaptive Mongols able to overcome this with development of siege weapons
 * Solid control of north China -> Mongol armies moved towards Kara Khitai Empire in the Islamic World
 * Conquest of Russia and Europe
 * Russia
 * Russian princes refused to unite with one another to prevent Mongol takeover
 * Mongol forces defeated one Russian prince at a time
 * city of Kiev was reduced to rubble, only thing spared was the cathedral of Saint Sophia
 * only Moscow gained from Mongol invasion
 * city rebuilt -> princes regaining power
 * Mongol invasion = turning point in history -> Russia began to gain power and overthrow Mongol rule
 * Western Europe
 * Mongols raided many areas in Europe; Adriatic Sea to Poland and Germany states (South to North)
 * Batu forced to withdraw forces from Europe when Ogedi died
 * many murders of Islamic leaders during the Muslim conquest were key for the controlling/takeover of the Muslim Empire
 * R || * Mongols were seen as the scourge of Islam and wanted to destroy Christianity
 * broader tolerance of religious leaders after Mongol invasions due to diverse faiths and ethnic groups that soon became under Mongol rule
 * Mongol religious tolerance benefited both the Orthodox church and Moscow
 * I || * famous scholars of captured towns usually spared and were employed along with artisans
 * Genghis Khan created new capital at **Karakorum**
 * consulted with Confucian scholars on how to rule China
 * Muslim engineers on building siege weapons and improvement of trade
 * all religions were tolerated in the Mongol Empire
 * T || * assortments of powerful and destructive weapons; bow, lances, maces, hatchets
 * flaming/exploding arrows, gunpowder, cannon
 * siege weapons developed
 * armours
 * script for the Mongolian language

Mongol ESPIRIT discussion []

Main Ideas of Sections with details

The Mongol Interlude in Chinese History MI - Kubilai Khan obtained the title of the great khan and gained control of southern China. Under his rule, the Yuan Dynasty was established where Chinese and Mongol interactions were limited in knowledge and society itself.
 * Kubilai Khan conquered southern China in 1279, while obtaining the title of the great khan in 1260. The Mongol regime in China was renamed the Yuan Dynasty
 * Kubilai Khan established laws to keep the distinction between Mongols and Chinese
 * Chinese scholars not allowed to learn Mongol script and vice versa
 * in society, Mongols and Chinese not allowed to marry each other
 * many other things such as religious ceremonies and cultures remained the same

Gender Roles and the Convergence of Mongol and Chinese Culture MI - The differences between Mongol women and Chinese women were reflected in Mongol women's refusal to adopt practices such as footbinding.
 * Mongol women refused to adopt the practice of footbinding which limited women
 * Mongol women had more freedom and were able to do what men do to some extent
 * women had some influence such as Kubilai Khan's wife, Chabi, who had a role in husband's decisions

Mongol Tolerance and Foreign Cultural Influence MI - The Mongols were fond of many different cultures which lead to many artisans and scholars from all parts of the world come to the city.
 * Muslims designed/supervised building of the imperial city and created a new tax system
 * Persian astronomers imported instruments to observe space
 * Buddhist, Nestorian Christians, Daoists and Latin Christians made their way into his court

Social Policies and Scholar-Gentry Resistance MI - Although Chinese and Mongol integration was "wanted", it was prevented by Kubilai's measures to prevent integration from occurring.
 * Kubilai refused to reinstate the examinations which allowed people to take offices
 * Position of both the merchant and artisan classes were boosted by Kubilai although the Chinese viewed them as "parasites"
 * they were often the ones who were spared
 * Mongols wanted the expand the growth of paper money
 * Mongol elites eventually become addicted to the Chinese lifestyle
 * also developed a navy to attack other nations
 * peasant taxes and forced-labor burdens were lessened

The Fall of the House of Yuan MI - Nearing the end of the Yuan Dynasty, secret religious sects began to form with the goal of overthrowing the dynasty.
 * Kubilai's wife dies and 5 years later, his favorite son dies = Mongol rule softening up
 * rising taxes placed anger and more burden on peasants who call for an overthrow
 * religious sects that formed include the White Lotus Society
 * After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty
 * poor man from poor peasant family rise up and tkae power => formed the Ming Dynasty

Aftershock: The Brief Ride of Timur MI - After the rule of the Mongols, a new group of nomads threatened and put fear in many, the Turks.
 * Timur-i Lang was a highly cultured person but was very ruthless conqueror
 * conquered Persia, Fertile Crescent, India and southern Russia
 * only known for amount of violence done by armies
 * pyramids of skulls, killed almost everyone
 * Empire established was not as great as the Mongols but after his death, warring commanders were the cause of the empire to break up

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