Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

UNIVERSAL LEADER

WHAT GENGHIS KHAN MEANS

NOBLE BIRTH

WHAT JAMUKHA VALUED

SKILL / TALENT

WHAT KHAN VALUED

UNMARKED GRAVE

WHERE KHAN WAS BURIED

Everything about history is a guess until a valid source can be found. Scholars, and even entire countries, told different stories of Khan's leadership, but without the original writings of his achievements, there was no way to know what was true.

What does the Mongol Empire's newly revealed past tell us about the nature of history and its dependence on source material?

TOLERANCE

ALLOW OTHER BELIEFS/RACES

The Great Law of Genghis Khan forbade the kidnapping and selling of women, the enslavement of all Mongols, adultery, and the stealing of animals. The law also gave freedom of religion and group responsibility and liability, the first of their kind. These laws were not made on behalf of God or another spiritual or political influence, but rather by the lessons taught to him through his past experiences, as well as traditions used in the cultures he had encountered.

What was the "Great Law of Genghis Khan"? How was it different from other law codes that has preceded it? What necessitated its creation?

China was very divided. Those of high class spoke different languages and had different political and artistic styles than commoners. There was no single tribe, but rather an accumulation of them scattered across the nation, which made the process of a single, unified ethnicity much more difficult to create. Many people rejected Khan as their leader, and his Mongol background was not viewed well in the eyes of the Chinese.

How did Khubilai Khan struggle with organizing millions of different people into a single entity?

After Temujin's father died and the family was abandoned, they were ignored by society. These events gave him the mental strength to push through his hardships as leader in his empire. When he murdered his half-brother, Begter, it made him the family leader, but also a criminal. He was captured by another tribe who he had previously had been friends. He was freed by a poor family outside of the tribe. This taught him that some people could be trusted, and some could not.

Describe Genghis Khan's early life. What motivated him ?

No victory or decision was ever final. Constant war prevailed. Conquered tribes were usually taken as a slaves or prisoners, but Genghis Khan made them citizens of his own tribe. All would pray before battles. Everyone was involved in the Mongol army, no matter their age, gender, etc.

Describe the nature of warfare.

TRADE

EXCHANGE OF GOODS & IDEAS

By uniting China, the Mongols had the power to create systems of technology, agriculture, and knowledge that could be used around the world. This universalism continued to grow even after the Mongol dynasty had broken, and became the core of the modern world with influence in "free commerce, open communication, shared knowledge, secular politics, religious coexistence, international law, and diplomatic immunity".

Explain what is meant by the "persistent universalism" of the Mongol Empire?

SILK ROAD

FAMOUS TRADING ROUTE

MERITOCRACY

GOVERNMENT BY ABILITY

CUT OFF SUPPLY LINES INTO THE CITY

HOW KHAN TOOK BEIJING

After conquering most of Central Asia and the Middle East, Khan realized that common merchandise in one place could be rare in another, and opened trade routes to facilitate the spread of these items. By uniting the people under one rule, Khan could band the cultures together to create a more cohesive community.

How did Genghis Khan attempt to shape the flow of trade across Eurasia?

When Ong Khan stopped his support for Temujin's tribe, Temujin convinced anyone who would listen that Ong Khan was dead. He used anger and vengeance as a way to encourage his tribes, and spread rumors to create tension between his followers and his enemies. Temujin schemes instilled fear in his adversaries by making them believe that his army was much bigger and stronger. He killed off all men of defeated clans to break the tribal lineage, then took the rest as citizens in his tribe.

How did Genghis Khan create his nation/state?

While hunting horses, Genghis Khan was thrown off of his horse, suffering deep internal injuries. Along with a large fever that Khan had already acquired, he died just before the Mongol's defeat of the Tangut.

How did Genghis Khan die?

Before Genghis Khan's reign, aristocracy ruled over the region. His legacy began with tribal warfare and conquering of nations, but ended with the "Mongol amalgamation of culture". By conquering civilizations and uniting them under one rule, he banded the cultures together to bring about a new era of commerce, communication, technology, agriculture, and more. Even after his death, his dynasty lived on to create the last great tribal empire in history.

How did Genghis Khan help make the modern world?

Khan incorporated his own tribe's legal code into the countries , encouraging support from both groups of followers. This new set of laws guaranteed landowners their property rights, reduced taxes, and improved roads and communication. The amount of punishable offenses was severely reduced in an effort to gain support. Khan also created a sort of criminal record system, complete with fingerprint documentation and parole.

How did Khan reform Chinese law? ...Chinese culture?

Through military conquest, trade routes were used frequently. Genghis Khan's vast territory created an efficient route for commerce. Mongols encouraged foreigners to set up trading posts throughout the region. The expansion of these trade routes and posts created an opportunity for Chinese manufacturing, fueling the growth of trade cities.

How did existing trade routes flourish and promote the growth of powerful trade cities?

The Mongols had to transition from an army of soldiers and warriors to a diplomatic corporation of innovators and economic development. The giant empire could use its flourishing trade routes to sell or buy almost any type of merchandise. This took cultures from all over the region and mixed them together to create technological advancements that could never have been made without the help of different groups.

How did the "Pax Mongolica" (the Mongol Peace) contribute to the development of a new, global culture?

Officers were also sent to determine unknown quantities among new territories to give the Mongols more information on their enemies. They also used their victories as intimidation to make their enemies fear them before they came.

How did the Mongol army adapt to the environment of the territories they attempted to conquer?

The Mongols created weapons out of anything, making missiles and arrows from tree trunks as well as new, more lethal forms of gunpowder and other explosives. They also took in citizens of conquered cities as Mongol citizens, encouraging unity under one reign. After Khubilai was appointed as the Great Khan, the Mongol Empire was separated into four basic divisions of authority.

How did the Mongol army improvise as well as use diplomacy to accomplish their military missions?

As China was the manufacturing capital of the world system, as goods spread, disease followed. Mongols believed that the source of the spread was the flow of commerce and people. Communication between governments decreased greatly, and the growth of religion began to recede. Foreigners were blamed for spreading the disease, thus threatening international commerce. The Mongols in Persia and Russia were cut off from China and Mongolia, cutting off trade and tribute.

How did the bubonic plague epidemic of the 1300s lead to the destruction of the Mongolian Empire?

Genghis Khan's cities were united, allowed for less tension between tribes. He paid high prices to encourage merchants and traders to come to the area and thank them for their journey. With trade coming in from various civilizations, almost anything could be found in the area. This expanded communication as well.

How did the expansion of empires facilitate Afro-Eurasian trade and communication?

When the Mongols realized that common merchandise in one place could be very rare somewhere else, the expansion of trade routes allowed for easier transportation and helped the spread of these items. Culture was made "portable" with these trade routes, and knowledge was passed on to teach new forms of technology.

How did the expansion of long-distance trade routes evolve according to environmental knowledge and technological adaptations?

Renaissance writers and explorers admired Genghis Khan, but Enlightenment encouraged many Europeans to blame the Mongols for any flaw in their continent. People were convinced that the Mongols held only a legacy of barbarism and dictatorship. Asians, however, held Khan in high regard.

How have different cultures treated the memory of Genghis Khan differently?

PAPER/GUNPOWDER/COMPASS

INVENTED BY CHINESE

Nomads carried only what was necessary. Tribes were governed by male leaders, and were usually quite hostile. Rituals and family were most important.

Identify the nature of nomadic life in 12th century Mongolia.

He built a Chinese dynasty, with a Chinese capital and administration, and even took Chinese names. He also built a Chinese temple in honor of his family, and relocated his court to the city of Khanbalik, which would later be known as the current capital of Beijing.

In what ways did Khan try to "sinicize" (make more Chinese) his image?

TEMUJIN

KHAN'S REAL NAME

EACH SOLDIER LIT 5 FIRES

MADE IT LOOK LIKE A HUGE ARMY

STEPPE

MONGOLIA'S TERRAIN

MONGOLIA

NAME OF KHAN'S HOME COUNTRY

KHAN

PEOPLE ON EARTH DESCENDED FROM KHAN

The soldiers rode only on horseback for faster mobility, and carried only what was necessary. They could survive days with little food and water, and travelled over more land to have more hunting opportunities and food for the animals. The Mongols also created rhymes to ensure precise communication on the battlefield, and worked to confuse and intimidate their enemies before attacking.

What was unique about the Mongol military? How did this give them a significant advantage over their enemies>

There were no primary sources/written accounts of Genghis' achievements but The Secret History of the Mongols was recently discovered in 2015.

Why has it been difficult to get information about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire until recently?