The Mongols
Who were the Mongols?
The Mongols were nomads from the grasslands north of China. They were herders as the grasslands were unsuitable to crops. They lived off their goats, sheep, yaks and horses. They migrated every year between the summer pastures in the north and the winter, to the open pastures in the south. They also traded with neighbouring countries and raided the wealthy regions to the south in China.
Mongol society
Until Genghis Khan was born in 1162, the Mongols lived in small tribal groups, or clans. A chief or Khan ruled the group and kept his position by showing strength and making good choices. If he failed in any way, he was open to challenge from other members of the clan. Women had influence and considerable freedom, they managed the camps and basic trade. Men were allowed as many wives as they could afford. Women lived separately in their own yurts (tents).
To do: Questions
Use a map to show where the Mongols originated.
Describe the Mongol lifestyle. Eating, drinking, housing and fun.
How did the Mongols make a living? Trade? War? Farming?
Background briefing: The Mongols
Brigands
As early as 400 BCE the Chinese governments were building walls in an attempt to defend China from Mongol raiders and brigands. Chinese civilisation was concentrated in cities and agricultural areas (River valleys). For the nomadic Mongols they were tempting targets. The Chinese viewed the Mongols as barbarians without culture. The Great Wall of China is actually a series of interconnected walls built by various Chinese kingdoms to protect themselves from the Mongol raids.
The Mongol expansion
After Genghis Khan united the tribes of the Mongols under his leadership in 1206 he began a remarkable expansion and created the Mongol Empire. At its peak 100 years later, the Mongol empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe, an area of 30 000 000 sq / km
Mongol trade and the Black Death
The Mongol trade networks allowed for the easy movement of goods and ideas.
They also made it easy for the Black Death to leave China.
To do: Questions
How did the Chinese governments respond to the threat of the Mongols? Include a map of the great wall of China.
How did the Chinese kingdoms view the Mongols and how did the Mongols view the Chinese kingdoms?
Use a map to describe the extent of the Mongol empire
Use a map of Mongol trade networks to describe how they led to the Black Death in Europe?
Source 1. The Complete History of the Mongols (1220). Ali Ibn al-Athir
Ali Ibn al-Athir was an Arab-Kurdish historian from modern day Eastern Turkey whose work describes the Mongol takeover of Muslim lands.
For some years I continued averse from mentioning this event, deeming it so horrible that I shrank from recording it. . . . . This thing involves the description of the greatest catastrophe . . . which befell all men generally, and the Muslims in particular. . .For even the devil will spare those who follow him, though he destroy those who oppose him, but these Mongols spared none, slaying women and men and children and killing unborn babe
Source questions
When was the source produced?
What was the motivation of the author of the source?
What does the source show about the impact of the Mongol invasion of the Islamic world?
Is the information factual or an opinion?
Source 2. Mongol siege of Baghdad C1300. ThughtCo
Baghdad held out for twelve days, but it could not withstand the Mongols. Once the city's walls fell, the hordes rushed in and collected mountains of silver, gold, and jewels. Hundreds of thousands of Baghdadis died. Georgian allies. Books from the Bayt al-Hikmah, or House of Wisdom, were thrown into the Tigris, supposedly, so many that a horse could have walked across the river on them.
Questions
What does the source show about how the Mongols acted in victory?
Source 3. The new Silk Road. History on the net
To facilitate trade, Genghis offered protection for merchants who began to come from east and west. He also offered a higher status for merchants than that allowed by the Chinese or Persians who despised trade and traders. During the period of the Mongol Empire, merchants found protection, status, tax exemption, loans and consistent aid from the Khans. For the 100 years of the height of the Empire, the East-West Mongol trade routes became the fabled Silk Road which for the first time linked Europe to Asia, allowing the free flow of ideas, technologies and goods.
Questions
Is the source primary or secondary?
What does the source show about how the Mongol's supported trade networks
Task 3. Mongol guide to world domination
Over a period of 70 years, the Mongols created an empire five times the size of the Roman empire. But how did they do it?
We are going to create a 5 part guide for empire builders, based on the strategies of the Mongols. You will need to describe how the Mongols used each strategy to build their empire.
Go to the task page for the task outline and resources
Include the following information in your world domination guide.
Describe the five steps (see below) to world domination in detail.
Use maps to describe the expansion of the Mongol empire
Use quotes to illustrate each step
Tips for a successful guide to world domination.
Use examples of each step
Include pictures to make your guide more engaging.
“Not even a mighty warrior can break a frail arrow when it is multiplied and supported by its fellows. As long as your brothers support one another , your enemies can never gain the victory over you ”