Mongol+Empire

Mongol ESPIRIT In what ways did early political aspects affect later conquests and development of the Mongolians?
 * E || * Nomadic herders of goats and sheep.
 * Used captured artisans and other skilled workers to boost manufacturing and increase commerce.
 * Revitalized commercialism and urban life. ||
 * S || * Dispatch caravans to signal a desire to establish political and commercial relations.
 * Contributed immensely to cross-culture integration and growth of the global network.
 * Mongol’s were a warrior society, Genghis Khan’s military machine ||
 * || Mongols interconnected the development of society with military aspects by focusing on conquest and expanding the Empire.
 * Emperorship; rulers called Khan’s; Genghis Khan
 * Destroyed those who defied them; expansionist
 * I || * Denying access or destroying a Mongol caravan was an act of war and cause fro retribution.
 * Mongol’s would massacre most of a city’s population other than their skilled artisans.
 * All historical accounts of Mongols by civilizations they conquered depicted them as brutal barbarian savages bent on erasing the achievements of those societies.
 * Forced a tremendous area of once hostile peoples to live together in peace. ||
 * R || * Broad tolerance of many religions and ethnic groups under their rule.
 * Genghis Khan encouraged philosophers and religious scholars throughout Eurasia to discuss their beliefs and merits in the capital of the empire, Karakorum. ||
 * I || * Cross-culture exchange; all-around human advance
 * T || * Advanced military tactics; (cavalry)
 * T || * Advanced military tactics; (cavalry)
 * T || * Advanced military tactics; (cavalry)


 * Notes:**
 * Mongol Interlude in Chinese History**


 * **﻿Kublai Khan** led Mongol campaigns against the Song dynasty to the south; he eventually changed the name of his regime to **Yuan**, a Chinese-based dynastic title.
 * Kublai attempts to keep Mongols and Chinese separate; his capital at **Tatu (Beijing**) gleamed of Chinese influence and culture.
 * New social structure was devised with Mongols on top, Muslims and Asian nomads in the middle, and northern and southern Chinese as the working classes.


 * Gender Roles and the Convergence of Mongol and Chinese Culture**:


 * Mongolian women retain rights to property and control within and without the household (women leading hunting trips)


 * **Chabi**, the wife of Kublai Khan, was an important political and diplomatic adviser to her husband and promoted Buddhism throughout the highest levels of government.
 * Respect for own traditions and determination to preserve culture a main factor for continuing Mongol dominance.


 * Because Muslims (Persians and Turks) were regarded as only below the Mongolians in the social ladder, they usually came to Mongolian cities to spread their knowledge and ideas.


 * Travelers and emissaries from foriegn land were welcomed by Kublai, as accounts of Mongol wealth were spread to Europe.


 * Many different faiths meet at Mongol cities in a religiously tolerant environment that continued to describe Mongol values, first introduced by Genghis Khan.


 * Social Politics and Scholar-Gentry Resistance**:


 * **Scholar**-**gentry** loss great deal of power within bureaucracy because of removal of civil service exams by Kublai; resentment to Mongol dominance also added to the unerst.
 * Kublai sought to revive artisan and merchant classes in China which was against basic Confucius ideals. Sea trade also allows Mongols to expand their influence even further.
 * Despite natrual suspicion of cities and agriculture, the Mongols seemed to be comfortable with both during the Yuan Dynasty as urbanization was expanded throughout the empire.
 * Musical dramas flourished under Mongols; **The Romance of the West Chamber** was one popular and celebrated work of literature.
 * Kublai made sure that the peasantry was protected from tyranical aristocrats and lowered taxes for the working classes.


 * The Fall of the House of Yuan**:


 * Song revolts in the South military failures in **Japan**, **Java**, and **Vietnam** all undermined Mongol standings.
 * The position of the elite Mongol class was threatened by the deteriorating Kublai death of his favorite son, **Chabi**, devastated him. Kublai's successors failed to continue his success.
 * By 1350, dynastic decline was apparent through failure of government to prevent piracy; local uprising by farmers in the South; religious sects such as **The White Lotus Society** that planned to overthrow the dynasty.
 * **Ju Yuanzhang** emerges to found the **Ming Dynasty**, which gained a grip on China for the next 300 years.


 * Aftershock, The Brief Ride of Timu**r:


 * **Timur-i Lang** was a Turk from a noble-classfamily; set on extremely violent conquests that were much fiercer than that of the Mongols.
 * Built pyramids out of the skulls collected from the cities he sacked.
 * His capital city was **Samarkand**; and his expansion brought no increase in trade, commerce, or cultural-exchange because, unlike the Mongols before them, no infrastructure was established.
 * **Timur-i Lang was** the last nomadic king to rule over sedentary nations; His death marked the end of his empire and of nomadic rulers.