Welcome! Please take out your

folders. Grade checks tomorrow! Thursday

Objective: Identify the impact of the Mongols on China.

Activity: What was one positive and negative impact the Mongols had on Russia?

I learned…

The Mongol EmpireThe impact on China

Focus ActivityWrite down the first words or phrases that

come to mind when you see the following terms:

Empire

Marco Polo

Genghis Khan

Who are the Mongols? Homeland – Rugged steppe region north of China Nomads

Depended upon animals (especially the horse) Constantly searching for water and vegetation

Precarious (fragile, dangerous) lifestyle At the mercy of nature Relied upon trade with other civilizations in times of need Motive for empire?

Genghis Khan Especially fierce, powerful Mongol leader who lived

from about 1162 to 1227 Consolidates dispersed Mongolian tribes Creates a Mongolian Empire Name means “Universal Ruler”

Encouraged skills of battle and the mindset of a warrior Advantage of cavalry over foot soldiers Warfare was a way for individuals to gain honor, power

and riches in Mongolian society

Early Mongolian Empire Capital = Karakorum Early 1200s Genghis Khan captures

Beijing, central Asia and most of Persia Genghis’ legacy:

Unity Religious tolerance Written language for the Mongolians Mongolian legal code

Kublai KhanGrandson of Genghis, known as the

“Great Khan”Conquers the rest of China, Tibet and

Southeast Asia [tried but failed to conquer Japan]

Establishes the Yuan Dynasty in northern China in 1271 – conquer Southern Sung in 1279 Adopts many Chinese beliefs, customs and

institutions Kept Chinese officials in court and Confucian

worship

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)Benefits of the Yuan Dynasty to the Chinese:Extended the Grand Canal Instituted efficient government

Over 10,000 courier stationsSupported the arts Increased trade with India and PersiaContact with EuropeDisadvantages of the Yuan Dynasty:Had to pay tributesLanguage barrierSecond-class citizens

Marco Polo Italian merchant and explorer Very impressed with the Mongol society“If you put together all the Christians in the

world, with their Emperors and their Kings, the whole of these Christians, - aye, and throw in the Saracens to boot, - would not have such power, or be able to do so much as this Kublai, who is Lord of all the Tartars in the world.”

Decline of the YuanReasons:1) Huang He (Yellow) River floods

causing destruction and famine2) String of weak successors3) Chinese unrest

Mongolian Empire: Review

Given what you know about Mongolian culture, try to explain the meaning of this Mongolian proverb: "Better the bone be broken than one’s

reputation.“ In what ways did the Mongolians

create an “empire”? What aspects of Mongolian lifestyle

and culture contributed to the creation of an empire?

Mongolian Empire: ReviewRead the following passage from Marco Polo’s

accounts of his travels. What is he saying about Kublai Khan? What is he saying about his empire?

“Whenever the Great Khan sits at the table on any great court occasion, his table is elevated a good deal above the others…Outside the hall are more than 40,000 people; for there is always a great crowd of folk bringing presents to the Lord, or coming from foreign countries with curiosities…On the buffet are placed all the Lord's drinking vessels, among which are certain pitchers of the finest gold, which are big enough to hold drink for eight or ten persons.”