Ch.

14 Reading Notes
Chapter Title: Chapter 14-The Last Great Nomadic Challenges: From Chinggis Khan to Timur Chronology (time period & major events):
1206 1227 Mongol state is founded Death of Chinggis Khan 1260 Mameluk(slave rulers of Egypt) defeat Mongols at Ain Jalut-> end of drive west 1274,1280 Failed Mogol invasions of Japan 1234 Mongols Take all of North China; end of Qin Dynasty 1260-1294 Reign of Kublai Khan in China
th

1271-1295 Marco Polo travels to Asian region

1336-1405 Timur the Lame

mid 14 century spread of black Death in Eurasia

Significant Characteristics & Developments: -Extended world network foundation for interaction on global scale Social
-patriarchal society -men dominated -women could influence tribal meetings/home Mogul and Chinese culture -women: refused to adopt footbinding, women retained property rights, rode to hunt -political organization: clan/kin based; combined in confederations when needed -One leadernamed Great Khanafter Chinggis Khan the empire was divided into fourand eventually became increasingly independent - Khan astute political strategist/brilliant military commander -leadership qualities: courage, alliance forging ability -many efficient military tactics; psychological warfare, sent spies to spread fear, military brutalitythreatened terrifying retribution-surrender of else-slaughtered/sold townspeople-buildings turned into rubble-were forced to pay tribute, divided groups into tumens, ensured equality among men of the spoils from war Paradox of rule- fierce fighters vs. tolerant/peaceful leaders -mongol conquests brought increased trade.. -towns; handicraft production, -secured trade routes..safe travel..more trade and easier route for spread of ideas -force for major economical/ social development -mongol conquests led to much cross-cultural exchanges -Kublai Khan-> acculturation of Chinesewas to ensure dominance in the end -lifestyle Horses lived on herds-meat, milk, traded hides for grain/vegetables; children rode from early age; could even sleep/eat on horsemovable shelters -> warriors could travel up to 15 miles a day Warriors trained at an early age to hunt/ridewere tough, mobile, and accustomed to death -were willing to adopt from conquered groupsinterested in arts and learning of conquered people -utilized excellent maps -religious tolerance; mongol script created..though mostly illiterate people -were open to new ideas; wanted diverse peoples to live together in peace -brought peace to much Asia: scholarships..free expression -curiousity/cosmopolitan tastes->opened china up -created warfleets/naviesdramas flourishtraditional poetry/essays suffer -decline: banditry/piracy increases, secret religious sects formed, scholar-gentry encouraged revolts, famine -fleas on livestock, rats on ship that nibbled grain -> plague
-population decline: Mongols carried bubonic plague from China and central Asia to Middle East and Europe; economic/ social impact 50% of population wiped out but forced adjustments/ change in economic/ social roles to deal with -gunpowder, stirrup, lancets, hatchets, maces, short bow, flaming arrows, rams. Catapults, exploding balls, bamboo rockets -mongol conquests expanded the global network and established everlasting links among civilizationsbringing isolated civilization into the global peripheralexchanging technologies, tools -mongols interrupted/ended many great Postclasscial empires -forged mightiest war machine Russia: impact -> Moscow grew, orthodox church intensifies control, changes in Russias military organization,

Political

Economic

Cultural

TED

princes realized need to centralize control(reduce limitations put on power by nobility, clergy, merchants) Islamic Heartland: impact -> ended dynasty that had ruled since 8th century, left faithful without central authority, devastated focal pints/trading centers of Islamic civilization

Key People or Individuals (briefly identify):

-Chinggis Khan: first mongol leader -Ogedei: third son of Chinggis Khan, mongol successor, not best warrior- but best diplomat -Chabi: Kublai Khans wife-was quite an influential figure in court; Promoted Buddhist interests; reduced harsh treatment of captured Song.. -Marco polo: merchant from venice; became part of mongol court for a while; -Timur-I Lang aka Timur the Lame: ruthless conqueror; killed thousands..; yet a highly cultured person

Comparison/Relations with Other Societies:

China/Europe/Middle East: Mongols brought the bubonic plague to Europe and Middle East which resulted in huge population declines. Europe: Explosive powder/printing Bedouin: political structure the same-kin/clan based-combined in confederations when needed Rome: militaryboth divided groupsrome-centurionsmogols-tumens

Questions & Connections (What argument or point remains unclear? Any thought that comes to mind, triggered by the text? What historical, global, thematic, or even personal connections can you make?):

QUESTIONS:
-Were the Mongols immune to the bubonic plague? -How did the secret religious sects justify their powers? -How did Kublai Khans wife, Chabi, die? -Why was Chinggis Khan highly tolerant of religions?

CONNECTIONS: -The legacy of the Mongol period was both complex and durable. The Mongols brought the Muslim and European world new military
knowledge, especially the use of gunpowder. Trade and cultural contact between different civilizations throughout Eurasia became much easier. The trading empires established in their dominions by Venetians and Genoese provided experience useful for later European expansion. An unintended consequence was the transmitting of the fleas carrying the bubonic plaguethe Black Deathfrom China and central Asia to the Middle East and Europe-> forced adjustments/ change in economic/ social roles to deal with. -lasting changes: new ways of making wars-gunpowder -facilitated trade: unprecedented trade of foods, tools, ideas; brought great wealth to traders -created urge for overseas expansion -other exchanges: Explosive powder/printing -after many wanted to maintain contacts: China grew more wary of outsiders; land-based travel became more difficult-> led to the need to focus on improving sea routes/ transportation -Russias isolation from Christian lands: benefit-russia protected invasion from Europenegative-cut off from key transformations in West Europe

-opened China to influences from Persian lands/ contacts with Europe