Topic 2.2: The Mongol Empire and the Making of the Modern World | AP World History: Modern

Feigned Withdrawl

A Mongol military tactic in which the Mongol armies would recede from battle and allow themselves to be pursued by the opposing side; once the enemy was inside the Mongol lines, they would be encircled and obliterated.

Pastoralism

A type of agricultural activity based on nomadic animal husbandry or the raising of livestock to provide food, clothing, and shelter; the most popular animals were sheep and cattle.

Chagatai Khanate

Central Mongol Khanate that ruled the lands in between the other khanates.

How were conquered peoples incorporated into the Mongol military?

Conquered peoples could became part of the military -- pastoral people were conscripted into cavalry units and agricultural peoples were placed in the infantry and artillery.

Great Khanate

Eastern Mongol Khanate that ruled China and Mongolia.

In what way did ecology motivate the Mongols' expansion?

Ecology motivated the Mongols' expansion in that drops in temperature in the Mongol homeland meant that less grass could be produced for horses; they needed grass and therefore went on to conquer the surrounding territories.

How did the Mongol treat conquered peoples?

Generally, the Mongol treatment of conquered peoples was rather good; although they did attain a position of social inferiority, generally, they were allowed to continue on with their lives and many were even valued for their skill sets.

Ghanan Khan's Conversion to Islam

Ghazan Khan converts to Islam in 1295 CE.

Mongol Shamanism

The Mongol practice of using shamans, individuals who could predict the future and communicate with the gods (like Tengri).

How did the Mongols affect Persian agriculture?

The Mongols affected Persian agriculture in that their conversion of farmland to pastureland/desert pushed farmers off of their land; the Persian qanats (irrigation channels) were therefore never used and neglected.

When did the Mongols make their first attacks?

The Mongols first struck upon settled agricultural societies near their homeland in 1209 CE... military campaigns, massive killing, and the beginnings of an early land empire. Picture of their first "strike" (they completely obliterate).

In what sense did the Mongols strike luck with "good timing" in their attacks and expansion?

The Mongols got lucky in that they made their attacks on China during a period of political and military unrest in which it was divided; the Jurchen had already taken a big bite out of Northern China. The Abbasid Dynasty was already decrepit and dying at this point, making successes in the Middle East fairly easy as well.

How were conquered peoples employed by the Mongols?

The Mongols increased their use of conquered peoples in their empire for better management. They were used to build roads and bridges and ferry supplies; especially-skilled individuals (artisans, craftsmen, etc.) were spared from the slaughter and were exported to wherever their services were needed.

How was the expansion of the Mongols helped by how much they were feared?

The extent to which the Mongols were feared helped them to expand through the imposition of terror; they had a reputation for brutality and destructiveness. As enemy soldiers were executed and women and skilled craftsmen were enslaved, "human fill" mounted in "moats of blood". Therefore, people standing before the Mongols were very unlikely to put up a fight and often simply surrendered to their spread.

Genghis Khan

The name that was bestowed upon Temujin in 1206 CE ("The Great Khan"). He was recognized as the leader of a Unified Great Mongol Nation.

Tengri

The supreme God of the Mongols who ruled heaven, the sky, and lightning.

How did the Mongols make effective use of their military to conquer?

The Mongols made effective use of their army through well-led, organized, and disciplined troops. They were classed into units for effective command and control. A notion of loyalty permeated the Mongol lines: "if I desert, we all die". They used elaborate tactics like encirclement, retreat, and deception to conquer and succeed. They learned new military tactics, such as the practice of siege warfare (which they learned from China), as they continuously ravaged Eurasia.

What faith did the Mongols practice?

The Mongols practice a pastoral faith that revolved around revering one's ancestors, the importance of the family hearth, the use of religious shamans, and communication with gods like Tengri. The Mongols were uninterested in religious imperialism, like the Muslims and the Christians.

How did the Mongols treat those of other religions?

The Mongols treated those of other religions with quite a good amount of respect and tolerance; as long as they didn't rebel, other religions were welcomed. Muslims were even allowed to seek converts among Muslim troops, and Christians in the Middle East had more freedoms than they did under Muslims.

Mongol Census

The Mongols were adamant census-takers, giving them knowledge about their empire (what's going on) and the ability to more effectively control their taxation.

How did wealth gained from conquered peoples help to shape and transform the Mongols?

The Mongols were greatly shaped by the inflow of wealth from conquered civilizations. They now dressed in linens and silk, were able to own slaves (they started off as prisoners-of-war), and had greater opportunity to improve their social position.

Sack of Baghdad

The Sack of Baghdad in 1258 CE that brought an end to the Abbasid Caliphate and involved the massacre of 200,000+ people.

Temujin

The birth name of Genghis Khan; at birth, he showed early signs of a prominent future and was well-liked for his magnetism and courage, and was surprisingly able to gather a very respectable following... a chief "in his own right".

Karakorum

The capital of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan (1162 to 1227 CE); located in modern-day Central Mongolia.

What was the Mongol Empire like at its founding?

When the Mongol Empire was first founded, it was an unstable and fractious collection of tribes and clans. Shifting alliances in modern-day Mongolia. No rest, only battle; no affection, only mutual slaughter (eek).

How did the Ilkhanate fall?

The Ilkhanate collapsed in the 1330s when no suitable heir could be found; Mongols and Turks assimilated into society far too much and Persians were able to resist cultural influence. The Mongols, really, were the ones who were conquered... culturally, at least.

Paiza

An inscribed tablet carried by Mongol officials and envoys to signify certain privileges and authority and safe passage anywhere in the empire.

Khanbaliq

Another name for Dadu, the capital of the Yuan Dynasty.

What were the effects of the Mongols building roads in China?

As the Mongols built roads in China, trade got a boost and Mongol rule was strengthened and more easily enforced.

Ortoghs

Associations of caravan merchants; these would reduce the risk of caravan trade by dividing profit and losses equally between involved parties.

Genghis Khan Replacement Hearings

Hearings for Genghis Khan's replacement in 1241 CE -- go back to homeland to pick a new khan; progress of armies stops and disputes continue in the empire for 19 years.

Why did the Mongols fall?

Ideally, the Mongols became "too settled"; supposedly, Genghis Khan became too reliant on listening to his advisors.

How did the fall of the Ilkhanate affect gender roles and structure in China?

Keep in mind that the Mongols had treated men and women equally, while the Persians had not and often suppressed women (per their Islamic beliefs); therefore, the fall of the Ilkhanate meant that female rights decreased drastically.

Ghazan Khan

Khan of Persia who ruled from 1295 to 1304 CE; he is remembered for his efforts to repair the Mongol damage to Persia.

How was the Yuan Dynasty a time of artistic and architectural splendor for China?

Kublai Khan loved painting and theater; construction of temples and monasteries.

What was the cultural impact of the Mongols upon the rest of the world?

Little cultural impact; the Mongols focused on military conquest and did not focus on spreading a new language, religion, or civilization.

Dadu

Modern-day Beijing; the city that was the capital of the Yuan Dynasty (Mongol China).

Kublai Khan

Mongolian emperor of China and grandson of Genghis Khan who completed his grandfather's conquest of China; he sought to change China's hate of merchants.

How did the Mongols employ foreigners in their bureaucracy?

Mongols employed foreigners in their bureaucracy by offering low-level and advisory positioned to Chinese and Muslim bureaucrats; the Mongols still had the "final word" on what happened in the empire.

Khanate of the Golden Horde

Northwestern Mongol Khanate that ruled Russia; leader.

How did the Mongols impact Persia?

Not much -- Mongol culture and religious beliefs failed to penetrate and much of the region stayed Islamic.

Were the Mongols able to expand their empire greatly?

Of course! They constructed an empire containing China, Korea, Central Asia, Russia, the Islamic Middle East, and even some of Eastern Europe. They defeated all armies with their impressive military tactics and reputation of ruthlessness and fear. A massive empire was established... and with very few resources, mind you!

Were the Mongols their usual ferocious selves in Persia?

Oh my, yes. The Mongols embarked upon a degree of ferocity and slaughter that was unprecedented; they were subject to pillage and massacre and local populations were decimated.

Khanate

One of four regional Mongol kingdoms that arose at the end of Genghis Khan's reign; each was led by one of his grandsons.

How did the Mongols begin to establish a centralized bureaucracy?

Over time, the Mongols established a centralized bureaucracy with a new capital at Karakorum; they had scribes to translate between the languages of the empire.

How did Persia impact the Mongols?

Persia impacted the Mongols themselves greatly; some learned a little Perisan, some became farmers, and some even married locals and converted to Islam.

What about the rule of the Mongols appealed to merchant communities?

Some elements of Mongol rule were extremely attractive to merchants. Namely, Mongols rulers would often offer merchants 10% above the asking price of goods and provide free use of convenient relay stations for transport.

Ilkhanate

Southwestern Mongol Khanate that ruled Persia.

Mongol Relay Stations

Stations that allowed for merchants to rest and recharge as they were traversing the empire; they were located every twenty miles along major trade routes and had food, horses, and lodging.

Were the Mongols fans of paper money?

Sure! The Mongols loved paper money, and encouraged its production in China and Persia.

Yuan Dynasty

The dynastic title given to Kublai Khan and the Mongol rule over China; it was also known as the "Great Khanate".

Hulegu Khan

The grandson of Genghis Khan and the first ruler of the Ilkhanate.

Mongol Empire

The largest land-based empire in all of human history, connecting Eurasia extensively and intimately during its rule.

Pax Mongolica

The period of relative peace for about 100-150 years occuring between the mid-1200s and the mid-1300s in Eurasia as a result of unification under Mongol rule' trade was encouraged and plentiful.

What were some setbacks or constraints on the growth of the Mongol Empire?

There were a number of significant setbacks that the Mongol Empire experienced. They withdrew from Eastern Europe in 1242 CE and failed to invade Japan due to its kamikaze winds and poor Mongol naval strategy. As a result of the dense jungle, they were also unable to penetrate in Southeast Asia.