The Mongol Empire

Ch 3.2

Genghis Khan and the Mongols

• Mongols lived in Northern china.– Encouraged the skill of

battle into its people.– They were great

horsemen• Could cover 100 miles a

day.• Special saddles and

steel stirrups.– Enabled a high rate of

bow and arrow fire.– Surround their

enemies, shower them with arrows.

– Mongols started their conquest in 1206.

Ghengis Khan• Ghenghis Khan lived from 1162-

1227.• They easily conquered cnetral

asia and most of Persia(Bagadad), Tibet and southeast asia

• Failed to invade Japan……….Storm stopped them……Divine wind.

• Batu, grandson to Ghenghis invaded Europe in 1240.

– Controled russia, poland, and hungary.

• Typically they plundered the city and enslaved or killed the people living there.

• Europeans called them the Golden Horde (color of tents)

Kublai Khan

• Kublai dynasty was called the Yuan.– Covered most of

northern china, headquartered in Beijing.

– Under the Mongols China prospered.

• Population began to grow.

• Extended the Grand canal.

• Started trade routes to the south

Contact with Europeans

• King Louis IX and the Pope sent embassadors to China.

• Missionaries also traveled there with traders.

• Marco Polo, at seventeen, traveled to China.– Took three years – Kublai employed him as

a special representitive.• Stayed in China for 17

years.

Mongol / Chinese Relations

• Yuan Dynasty did a lot of good for the Chinese, but there were still tensions.– They spoke different languages.– Mongols did not treat the chinese as equals.– Punishments were harsher for chinese.

• When Kublai died in 1294.– China experienced many problem, flooding and

famine caused revolts.– 1368, the mongols were forced out.