Slide1 : Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
The Mongols
The Yuan Dynasty
Map: Mongol Empire
End of the Yuan Dynasty
Faces of History: Kublai Khan The Mongol Empire
Slide2 : Reading Focus
How did the nomadic Mongols build an empire?
How did China change under the Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty?
Why did the Yuan dynasty decline and finally end? Main Idea
The Mongols built a vast empire across much of Asia, founded the Yuan dynasty in China, and opened China and the region to greater foreign contacts and trade. The Mongol Empire
Slide3 : In the 1200s a nomadic people called the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia to create the largest land empire in history. The Mongols
Slide4 : Separate Clans
Mongols divided into separate clans, each led by a khan, chief
Khans rose to power through military skills, ability to lead
1100s, Temujin, powerful khan, began to conquer rivals, unite Mongol clans Campaign of Conquest
Mongol forces began bloody campaign of conquest; highly mobile armies
Employed brutality, psychological warfare; burned towns, killed inhabitants
Sent agents ahead to instill fear; soon people surrendered without a fight Genghis Khan
1206, Temujin completed task, took name Genghis Khan, “Universal Ruler”
Set out to build empire, organized Mongols into powerful military machine
Strict discipline, demanded loyalty, rewarded those who pleased him The Universal Ruler
Slide5 : The Mongol Empire
Slide6 : The Golden Horde Golden Horde stood ready to invade western Europe
Grandson Batu learned of Great Kahn’s death, suddenly turned back
India, Western Europe escaped Mongol wrath
Most of Eurasia devastated
Millions had died, entire cities annihilated
Slide7 : Stability in Asia
Mongol Empire established peace, stability across Asia
Some historians call period Pax Mongolica, “Mongol Peace”
Guarded trade routes across Asia, allowed trade to increase; people, goods, ideas flowed across Asia
Some believe Black Plague spread from Asia to Europe during period The Mongol Peace
Mongols built empire with brutality, ruled peacefully
Tolerated local beliefs, ways of life, allowed local rulers to stay in power as long as they paid tribute to Mongols
Some Mongols adopted aspects of more civilized cultures; Mongols in Central Asia, Persia, adopted Islam
Slide8 : Identify Supporting Details
How were the Mongols able to build a vast empire across much of Eurasia? Answer(s): army was skilled and well organized, rules promoted loyalty and obedience; tactics involved brutality and psychological warfare; built fear in those they conquered
Slide9 : Great Kahn
1260, Kublai Khan became Great Kahn of Mongol Empire
Determined to complete conquest of China begun in 1235 Kublai Kahn Rules China
As emperor, Kublai Khan tried to gain loyalty of Chinese subjects
Adopted Chinese practices, gave dynasty Chinese name Southern Song
Mongols ruled northern China
Southern Song dynasty ruled in south, fiercely resisted Mongols
1279, Song defeated; Kublai Khan created Yuan dynasty New Capital
Kublai Khan moved capital to near what is now Beijing
Built Chinese-style walled city, lavish palace, adopted Chinese court ceremonies The Yuan Dynasty
Slide11 : Mongol Identity
Kublai Khan tried to rule as Chinese emperor
But took care to see Mongols not absorbed into Chinese culture
Mongols lived apart from Chinese, had little in common Limited Power
Kublai Khan distrusted Chinese, limited power
Chinese officials served at local level, could not hold high government posts
Mongols invited foreigners to hold government office Separation
Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged
Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese
Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military Kublai Khan Rules China
Slide12 : Mongols burdened Chinese with heavy taxes
Large part of taxes supported public-works projects
Chinese laborers built new roads, extended Grand Canal
Improvements made shipping rice, other goods from southern China to northern China easier, more reliable Taxes to Trade
Slide13 : Some scholars question whether Polo reached China or just related stories he heard in his travels, but his tales increased interest in China. As a result of Kublai Khan’s foreign trade policies, many merchants, travelers and missionaries came to China. Most were from Southwest Asia and India. However a few came from Europe as well. One of the most famous of these Europeans was Marco Polo. Europeans to China
Slide14 : Summarize
How did Mongol rule in the Yuan dynasty affect life for the Chinese? Answer(s): made the Chinese subordinate to the Mongols; limited their power
Slide15 : The Yuan dynasty weakened during the last part of Kublai Khan’s reign. One cause was a number of military defeats. All of his invasions into Southeast Asia failed, and Mongol armies suffered huge losses. End of the Yuan Dynasty
Slide16 : Military and Monetary Losses
Slide18 : Identify Cause and Effect
What factors led to the end of the Yuan dynasty? Answer(s): military defeats and failed invasions; lack of good leadership; power struggles; Chinese discontent