"the bridge between eastern and western cultures" all empires from sunrise to sunset have...
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"The Bridge between Eastern and Western
Cultures"
All empires from sunrise to sunset have been given to us, and we own
them. -Guyuk Third Great Khan of the Mongols
The Mongolian Empire
Who were the Mongols?
• Nomads who lived on the steppe
• Central Asia• Tribal with strong clan ties• First united together under the
great Mongol ruler Genghis Khan
Who was Genghis Khan?
• Mongol leader • Great military
leader
• United the tribes • Gained control of a vast empire• Instilled fear in the conquered
• All who surrender will be spared; whoever does not surrender but opposes with struggle and dissension, shall be annihilated.--Genghis Khan
Largest land empire
• At it’s height, the Mongol empire was the largest land empire the world has ever known!
• Bigger than the Persian Empire!• Bigger than Alexander’s Empire!• Bigger than Rome!• Bigger than Byzantium!
• When Genhgis Khan died his empire was divided among his sons and grandsons: khanates (like separate states or empires)
• His grandson Kublai Khan gains the khanate of the east including China
Kublai Khan
• Grandson of Genhis Khan• Ruled in China• Government: only Mongols and foreigners…no
Chinese in high positions-why?• But respected and were interested in Chinese
culture• Got rid of Civil Service Exam• Postal/communication system connected
Beijing to Vienna using horses; 1400 postal stations; trade flourished; merchants converted their $$ to Chinese paper money
Kublai Khan Continued
• Marco Polo the great Italian explorer:• From Venice• Served in the Khans court for 17 yrs• Wrote about his travels to China…no one
believed him
• Increased the status of artisans/actors/merchants
• Kublai’s successors were weak• Divided the empire among various
generals • by 1350, most of the empire was
reconquered by other armies
Mongol Impact
• Pax Mongolia• United large territory for about a century 2
continents were united under one rule; safe trade; etc
• Cultural diffusion• Gun powder• Trade of food, tools, ideas• $$ for traders (esp. in Venice and Genoa)• Bubonic Plague (AKA Black death)• Killed 1/3 of W. Europe and 50% of the population
in other areas• Ended feudalism in W Europe
Summary
• Began as nomads and challenged the sedentary peoples for control
• Often portrayed as barbarians; destructive conquerors, but they brought peace, religious toleration, laws and unity to their empire
• Empire included Central Asia, China, Persia, Tibet, Iraq, Asia Minor, and Southern Russia
• Bridged gaps between East and West
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