Mongol Eurasia

1
Mongol Eurasia Its Aftermath1200-1500
2
Nomadism in Central Asia

• Resources
• Scarce water Pressure for tribes to move out to
  find new sources
• Complex Hierarchy
• Headed by single leader (khan)
• Powerful groups demanded and received tribute in
  the form of slaves and goods (some lived entirely
  on tribute).
• The groups /families formed larger groups called
  federations
• Women important in negotiating alliances
• Seasonal migrations and religious contacts
• Brought into contact w/ Judaism, Christianity,
  Buddhism Islam
• Tolerant of other Religions
• Khan thought to represent the sky god

3
Genghis Khan

• Temujin aka Genghis (Chengiz)) Khan
• Responsible for bringing together all Mongol
  tribes into a single confederation
• Mastered the art of steppe diplomacy
• Called for displays of personal courage in battle
  combined with intense loyalty to allies and the
  ability to entice other tribes into alliances.
• The four most significant legacies (aside from
  his conquests)
• His tolerance of many religions
• His creation of the Mongols' first script
• His support for trade and crafts
• His creation of a legal code specific to their
  pastoral-nomadic way of life

4
Mongol Conquests

• 1206-1258 conquered from Korea to Hungary and
  Baghdad
• Reputation for slaughtering all who would not
  surrender
• Ability to take advantage of rivalry among
  enemies
• Ability to conquer based on
• Horsemanship
• Better bows
• Following a volley of arrows w/ deadly cavalry
• Adopting new military techniques and technology
• Incorporating non-Mongol soldiers into their
  armies

5
Strong Equestrians and Archers

• Extreme Mobility
• They carried their houses with them
• Drank their own horse's blood milk
• Could travel up to 60 miles per day.
• Message system allowed orders to be transmitted
  rapidly across Eurasia.
• Deadly Archers
• Arrows could kill enemies at 200 meters (650 ft)
• Modified stirrups
• Terror tactics (psychological warfare)

6
Impact of the Mongols

• Mongol conquests opened overland trade routes
• Long distance trade led to cross diffusion of
  military and science between Europe, Middle East,
  and Asia.
• Never before seen commercial integration in
  Eurasia
• Trade from Venice to Beijing by sea and overland
  routes
• The Great Pandemic (Bubonic Plague) would bring
  even greater population shifts

7
Shortly after Genghis Khans death in 1227, his
empire split into four Khanates among sons
grandsons (P 329).