By: Nicole Crumpler
Chinggis Khan: The Unifier of the Mongols
College Board Theme
State Building, Expansion & Conflict, Political Structures, Empires, Nations, Nationalism, Revolts & Revolutions
State Building, Expansion & Conflict, Political Structures, Empires, Nations, Nationalism, Revolts & Revolutions
Early Life
- Born as Temüjin in 1167ce - Noble son of a prominent warrior who forged alliances between powerful clans - When Temüjin was 10 years old, rival poisoned his father, took his family's animals, and destroyed the alliances forged by Temüjin's father - Temüjin spent the rest of his early life in poverty and trying to elude assassins |
Chinggis Khan's Rise To Power - In the late 12th century, Temüjin allied with a prominent clan leader - Temüjin mastered the art of steppe diplomacy (do app thing on part of steppe diplomacy) - Temüjin strengthened his position by forging alliances, defeating rivals, and betraying bad allies - He brought all the Mongolian tribes under a single confederation - 1206, an assembly of Mongol leaders recognize him as supreme leader by naming him Chinggis Khan ("Universal Ruler") |
|
Mongol Political Organization
- Chinggis Khan's politics strengthened the Mongolian People
- Whereas early nomadic state builders ruled through leaders of allied tribes, Chinggis Khan broke up tribal affiliations because he mistrusted the tribal system
- Chinggis Khan chose officials based on merit and loyalty to him, not on the basis of kinship or tribal status
- Chinggis Khan built a palace and capital at Karakorum in order to symbolize that his authority ranked above that of the clan or tribe
- Decreased tribal affiliations caused decreased infighting, which strengthened the state
Mongolian Army - Like early nomadic peoples, they relied on horsemanship and shooting arrows from horseback - The army was small (100,000-125,000 warriors) but one of the most mobile forces in the pre-modern world - Spared the lives of enemies who surrendered without resistance; massacred those that resisted - Generous towards talented conquered people (highly educated or skilled artisans) |
Mongol Conquest of Northern China
- In 1211, Mongols began to raid Jurchen-Controlled Northern China
- 1215, captured capital and renamed it Khanbaliq, but fighting between the Mongols and Jurchens continued until 1234
- Khanbaliq served as the Mongolian capital in China
Mongol Conquest of Persia
- In 1218, Chinggis Khan tried to open trading and diplomatic relations with the ruling Khwarazm shah in Persia, but the shah despised the Mongols and killed the envoys and accompanying merchants
- In 1219, Chinggis Khan took his army to Persia and Afghanistan to seek revenge
- Chinggis Khan pursued the shah to an island in the Caspian Sea where he died, shattered the shah's army, and took control of the realm
- To ensure that there would be no revival of the shah's state, Chinggis Khan destroyed the realm; decimating buildings, massacring hundred of thousands, and destroying the qanat irrigation systems and agricultural production
|
Chinggis Khan attained power through his artful use of steppe diplomacy and his military skills. By the time of his death in 1227, he had laid the foundation for a vast and mighty empire.
|
Mongolian Rule Under Khubilai Khan
College Board Theme
State Building, Expansion & Conflict, Political Structures, Empires, Nations, Nationalism, Revolts & Revolutions
State Building, Expansion & Conflict, Political Structures, Empires, Nations, Nationalism, Revolts & Revolutions
Who Was Khubilai Khan?
-Grandson of Chinggis Khan
-Named Great Khan of China in 1260, but spent 4 years fighting off contenders
-Most talented of Chinggis Khan's descendants; ruthless against enemies but also interested in cultural matters and improving the welfare of subjects
-Promoted Buddhism, but tolerated other religions
-Praised by Marco Polo for his generosity to the poor and road building
-Ruled 1264-1294
-Grandson of Chinggis Khan
-Named Great Khan of China in 1260, but spent 4 years fighting off contenders
-Most talented of Chinggis Khan's descendants; ruthless against enemies but also interested in cultural matters and improving the welfare of subjects
-Promoted Buddhism, but tolerated other religions
-Praised by Marco Polo for his generosity to the poor and road building
-Ruled 1264-1294
Mongol Conquest of Southern China -From his base at Khanbaliq, Khubilai attacked the Song Dynasty -Captured the capital at Hangzhou in 1276, and ruled all of southern China within 3 years -1279, proclaimed himself emperor, and established the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) - Beyond China he had very little success in conquering; failed expeditions in Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Java, and Japan |
Mongol Rule in China
- Rulers aloof from subjects whom they scorned as mere cultivators
-Outlawed Chinese-Mongol intermarriage, forbade Chinese from learning Mongolian language
-Suggested exterminating Chinese people, and conversion of China into pasture for horses
-Used foreign administrators instead of local talent; nomadic allies, Mongols, Arabs, Persians, and maybe even Europeans (Marco Polo?)
-Resisted assimilation into Chinese culture
-Dismantled Confucian education system; which withered without official support
-Allowed construction of religious temples and shrines & tolerated other cultural and religious traditions
-Most Mongols remained shamanist, but many of the ruling elites converted to Tibetan Buddhism; which observed magic and supernatural powers like shamanism
Made Using Mematic App
Mongols and Kwarazm-Shahs (Group Skit)