The MongolsLots and lots of Mongolian Problems

The Early Mongolians

• Began as nomadic horsemen on Mongolian Steppe– Primarily herders of

sheep and yaks– Very good with shooting

bows from horseback• Mongols split between

different nobles and warlords

Expansion of the Mongol Empire

Genghis (Chinggis) Khan (1162? – 1227)

• Born Temujin• Father killed when he was 9• Started bringing tribes

together to re-capture his wife Borte– Had to deal with other

nobles and uncles• 1206 crowned as Khan of

the Mongol nation

The Conquests of Genghis Khan

• 1209 – Genghis attacks Xi Xia in Northwest China (Easy Victory over Buddhist society)

• 1214 – Genghis attacks Jin in Northeast China (Easy Victory, ends with sacking of Zhongdu)

• 1218 – Khwarizm (Persians) kill Mongol envoy

The Conquests of Genghis Khan

• 1218-1221 – Genghis chases Persian king across Central, and western Asia (Conquering and killing)– Central Asia, Northern India, Southern Russia to

empire• 1226 – Xi Xia rebel, hold up in city of Ningxia

(flooded out and erased from earth)– Genghis dies in 1227 (possibly by Tangut princess)

The Empire of Genghis Khan (1227)

Genghis Khan’s Legacy• Religious Tolerance – Allowed conquered people

to retain their own religion• Writing – 1204 commissioned development of

written language• Trade and Crafts – Supported trade and artisans• Legal Code – “Jasagh” a moral code that

dictated acceptable pastoral life • Split empire between sons when he died

Ögedei Khan (1229 – 1241)• Third son of Genghis Khan from first wife• 1230-1231 – Conquered Persia• 1230-1234 – Conquered Jin Empire (Kaifeng)– With help of Song, who then betrayed Mongols (killed

envoy)• 1232-1240 – Conquered Caucuses – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia

• 1224-1241 – Conquest of Korea– (started when Mongol envoy killed)

Ögedei Khan (1229 – 1241)• Europe – Mongols

conquered Russia, pushing on to Austria when Ögedei died

• 1235-1245 – Attacked Song– Song killed envoy

• 1241 – Conquered Northwest India

Golden Horde 1225- 1502• Mongols under the

Command of Batu grew to control most of modern day Russia

• Forced Rus to act as tributary states

Kublai Khan (1260-1294)

• 1279 – Finally conquered remainder of Song Empire– Established capital in Khanbaliq

where he ruled Korea, China, and Tibet

• 1279 and 1281 tried to invade Japan

• 1287 - Vietnam• 1277, 1283, 1287 – Conquest of

Burma

Mongol Empire Extent