Transcript Imperial China -- Qin to Ming Dynasties

The Mongols
Barbarians or Men of the
People and Trade
Facilitators?
The Rise of the
Mongols
Temujin --> Chenghis
Khan [“Universal Ruler”]
United the Mongols in
1162, Died in 1227
from the steppes of
Asia. Built the World’s
Largest land Empire
Created his new
capital at Karakorum
Genghis Khan
 Genghis Khan
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Unified Mongol tribes in
1206
 Mongol Policies
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Borrowed written script
from the Uighur Turks
Created uniform legal
code
Reorganized the military
Broke up tribal
affiliations
Officials chosen based
on talent
Mongolian Steppes
Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol]
“Yurt”
Wagon-pulled “gers”
made Moving Easier
Karakorum
Mongol Invasions
Mongol Warriors
Mongol Archer
Mongol Warfare
The Advantages of
the Bow and the
Horse
•Move swiftly
•Ride standing up
because of stirrups
•Could attack with
bow and arrow
from afar
•Faked retreat
•Tied sacks to
saddles to add
numbers
The MONGOLS Build
Their Empire
 Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:
 If
you do not pay homage,
we will take your prosperity.
 If you do not have prosperity,
we will take your children.
 If you do not have children,
we will take your wife.
 If you do not have a wife,
we will take your head.
 Used cruelty as a weapon --> some areas
never recovered from Mongol destruction!
Horses- the key to Mongol
Success
The Mongol Empire
 Mongol rule was
generally tolerant
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Religious toleration
Administrators drawn
from Islamic and
Chinese worlds
Intellectuals taken
from conquered
kingdoms
 Trade and cultural
exchange flourished
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Pax Mongolica
Protect merchants
The Other Side of the Mongols
 Although the Mongols have certainly
earned their barbaric reputation, the
Mongols also patronized artisans.
 The Mongols often offered artisans
special privileges. For example, after
invading Samarkand, Ghengis Kahn
ordered all artisans spared
 Artisans also did not have to pay Corvée
taxes
Gold Saddle Arch –
Mongols, 13c
Gold Saddle, Front
View – Mongols, 13c
Silk Screen painting of a
Mongol Noble, late 13c
Robe of a Mongol
Nobleman, early 14c
Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c
Yuan Porcelains &
Ceramics
Trade Routes Under the Mongols
The Pax Mongolica
Mongols: Trade Facilitators?
Increase in Trade during
Mongol Rule
People traveled as
well as goods
Marco Polo
A Venetian merchant
Traveled through Yuan
China: 1271-1295
“Black Stones” [coal]
Gunpowder
Noodles
Marco Polo’s Travels
But so did Disease
The Black Plague spread from China to
Europe in the mid-14c.
Bulbous
Septicemia Form:
almost 100% mortality rate.
Russia Under the Mongols
 Ruled by the Khanate of the Golden Horde
 Russian princes forced pay tribute
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Princes raise taxes on peasants
Peasants reduced to serfdom
 Cut Russia off from Western Europe
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Renaissance has minimal influence on Russia
 Rise of Moscow
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Moscow profited as tribute collector for Mongol
overlords
Princes of Moscow turned against the Mongols
in 1380
Kublai Khan Rules China
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
Separation
• Individual friendships between Mongols, Chinese discouraged
• Mongols forbidden to marry Chinese
• Different laws, taxes for Chinese; could not own weapons, serve in military
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
Taxes to Trade
• 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
Peace
• Mongols posted soldiers
throughout China to keep peace
• Feared rebellions, particularly in
south where many Chinese
remained loyal to Song dynasty
Foreign Trade
• Foreign trade increased
• Pax Mongolica made land travel
safer for merchants
• Sea trade improved; foreign
merchants welcomed to China’s
ports
End of the Yuan Dynasty
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.
Japan
• Kublai Khan had
set sights on
conquering Japan
• Tried to invade
Japan twice
• Disastrous results
each time
Attacks
• First attempt: 900
ships attacked
Japan, storm
destroyed fleet
• Second attempt:
Khan sent larger
fleet, severe storm
again wiped out
fleet
Kamikaze
• After two fleets
destroyed by
storms, Mongols
never attempted
Japanese invasion
• Japanese called
storms that saved
them kamikaze,
“divine wind”
Admiral Zheng He
(Cheng Ho)
 Ming “Treasure Fleet”
 Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide
 China’s “Columbus?”
1371-1435

Admiral Zheng He’s
Voyages
 First Voyage: 1405-1407 [62 ships; 27,800 men].
 Second Voyage: 1407-1409 [Ho didn’t go on this trip].
 Third Voyage: 1409-1411 [48 ships; 30,000 men].
 Fourth Voyage: 1413-1415 [63 ships; 28,500 men].
 Fifth Voyage: 1417-1419
 Sixth Voyage: 1421-1422
 Emperor Zhu Gaozhi cancelled future trips and ordered ship
builders and sailors to stop work.
 Seventh Voyage: 1431-1433
 Emperor Zhu Zhanji resumed the voyages in 1430 to restore
peaceful relations with Malacca & Siam
 100 ships and 27,500 men; Cheng Ho died on the return
trip.
Some Websites to Visit
 http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/- Specific
unit on the Mongol’s impact on Asia
 http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/dev/
default.htm Big History units. Mongols
are discussed in Unit 5.
 http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/
Offers a wealth of information on
various aspects of the silkroads.