nomads of the asian steppes. asian steppes steppe: vast stretch of grassland – spreads across asia...
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Asian SteppesAsian Steppes
Steppe: Vast Steppe: Vast stretch of stretch of grassland – grassland – spreads across spreads across Asia for thousands Asia for thousands of milesof miles
Nomadic people Nomadic people roamed the roamed the steppessteppes
Temperature Temperature extremes: -57° to extremes: -57° to 96°F96°F
Mongol NomadsMongol Nomads
Many nomads Many nomads roamed on roamed on horseback – lived horseback – lived together in clans together in clans (kinship groups)(kinship groups)
The Rise of the MongolsThe Rise of the Mongols
Mongol clan leader Mongol clan leader named Temujin named Temujin defeated rivals defeated rivals across Mongolian across Mongolian steppe – took name steppe – took name of “Genghis Khan” of “Genghis Khan” or ‘universal ruler’or ‘universal ruler’ Spent 21 years Spent 21 years conquering much conquering much of Asiaof Asia
Genghis Khan’s “Reign of Terror”Genghis Khan’s “Reign of Terror”
““In retribution for every hair on their In retribution for every hair on their heads it seemed that a hundred heads it seemed that a hundred thousand heads rolled in the dust”thousand heads rolled in the dust”
Genghis KhanGenghis Khan
Sought revenge Sought revenge against other tribes against other tribes & Muslim & Muslim neighbors – neighbors – ruthless ruthless tactics/slaughtered tactics/slaughtered thousandsthousands Created largest Created largest unified land empire unified land empire in history (from in history (from China to Poland)China to Poland)
The Mongol Empire - KhanatesThe Mongol Empire - Khanates
Genghis Khan
Ogadai(Genghis Khan’s son)
Kublai Khana.k.a. the ‘Great Khan’
(Genghis Khan’s grandson)
The KhanatesThe KhanatesEach Khanate ruled a portion of the Each Khanate ruled a portion of the empireempire
Kublai Khan“The Great Khan”Mongolia & China
Khan of Persia Khan of RussiaKhan of Central
Asia
The Khanates of the Mongol The Khanates of the Mongol EmpireEmpire
Khanates were effective leaders (similar to Khanates were effective leaders (similar to province system of earlier civilizations)province system of earlier civilizations)At first – destroyed land & irrigation of At first – destroyed land & irrigation of enemies --> became very fearedenemies --> became very fearedEventually adopted culture from many Eventually adopted culture from many areas --> ruled with stability, law & orderareas --> ruled with stability, law & order The Pax Mongolica “Mongol Peace” (1200-The Pax Mongolica “Mongol Peace” (1200-
1300) had stability, trade, & exchange of 1300) had stability, trade, & exchange of ideasideas
Problems for Kublai KhanProblems for Kublai Khan
Khan was once told by an advisor:Khan was once told by an advisor:
““I have heard that one can conquer the I have heard that one can conquer the empire on horseback, but one cannot empire on horseback, but one cannot govern it on horseback”govern it on horseback”
Kublai Khan’s ruleKublai Khan’s rule
Government run by Mongols, but the Government run by Mongols, but the population was overwhelmingly Chinesepopulation was overwhelmingly Chinese
Distrust led to lack of Chinese influence in Distrust led to lack of Chinese influence in governmentgovernment BUT…this distrust led to a HUGE foreign BUT…this distrust led to a HUGE foreign
influence in China – includinginfluence in China – includingArab Muslims, Indians, Persians, and Christian Arab Muslims, Indians, Persians, and Christian EuropeansEuropeans
One European to visit & trade: Marco PoloOne European to visit & trade: Marco Polo
Marco Polo questionsMarco Polo questions
Who was Marco Who was Marco Polo?Polo?
Where was he from?Where was he from?
What was he doing in What was he doing in China?China?
Why did Kublai Khan Why did Kublai Khan employ him?employ him?
Marco Polo – Accurate story or Marco Polo – Accurate story or ‘made up’?‘made up’?
What are the problems with the primary What are the problems with the primary source account that you have just read? source account that you have just read? In other words, what makes it not In other words, what makes it not believable?believable?
What makes this account “believable”?What makes this account “believable”?