The+Mongols



Mongols ESPIRIT Time Period – 13th Century

Main ideas for each category here: [] * || * || * || * || Notes on "The Mongol Interlude in Chinese History":
 * E || MI: The Mongols originally depended on herding as the major driving force behind their economy, until conquered lands helped expand free, long distance trade and would act as a similar manner as the modern day internet, creating a sense of global community. (Daniel's group)
 * The Mongols were herders, not hunter-gatherers. Their nomadic lifestyle encouraged herding as it did not need a stable location.
 * Sheep and other livestock were highly valued.
 * Were able to develop an immense commerical network in which trade routes would connect all of Middle Asia to better facilitate commerce and trade.
 * Trade could safely occur between the far ends of the empire without any problems. ||
 * S || MI: The Mongols originally lived in a society of multiple clan based kin tribes, however over time they united under the rule of Chinggis Khan and became a warrior, war like culture. Socially, men assumed all leadership positions, while women prominent in the home and trained in combat. (Social group)
 * The basic unit of Mongol society was the tribe, which was composed of kin-related clan.
 * Leaders were elected by the free men, and women did have a say in these tribal meetings.
 * Mongol values of male courage in battle were instrumental for a soldier's self-esteem.
 * Warriors that abandoned their unit were immediately executed - showed great emphasis of loyalty in Mongol life.
 * P || MI: Coming from a collection of disunited tribes, Genghis Khan was able to unite all of Mongolia under one rule and he succeeded in diverting Mongol energies toward outward expansion.
 * When in face of attack, tribes came together to form large confederacies; but these were dissolved in times of peace.
 * Chinggis Khan rose to power following the death of his father; was thrust into control of a large confederation of tribes (at a kuriltai, or meeting of Mongol chieftans)
 * Chinggis Khan elected khagan, or supreme ruler, of the Mongol tribes.
 * Loyalties to the khagan allow Mongols to focus energies toward outward conquest rather than civil strife.
 * Khan established the new capital as Karakorum
 * Tribes that surrendered were payed lofty tributes.
 * Mongol Empire was divided into 4 khanates after Genghis Khan's death.
 * I || MI: The Mongols came into contact with numerous civilizations in Asia and Western Europe. The mutual transfer of ideas developed and Mongol influence was unavoidable.
 * Lived to the North of Chinese civilization; some influences of Chinese culture
 * Attacks on Xi Xia and Jin established a foothold for them in North Asia.
 * The Mongolian invasion of decentralized Russia brought many reforms to a reviving Moscow. The city gradually rebuilt and began a feudal system that placed enormous pressure of the peasantry, who now were paying tribute to their nobles and to the Mongols.
 * Khawarsm Empire (part of Islamic Empire) was demolished city by city in retribution for destroyed caravan.
 * R || The Mongols tolerated religious freedom and worshiped natural deities themselves.
 * 'Khan followed the shamanistic (emphasis on natural spirits) beliefs of his ancestors.
 * Religious tolerance a common theme throughout the empire (Moscow, a center of Christian Orthodoxy greatly benefited ||
 * I || MI: Despite the contrary, the vast Mongol empire encouraged intellectualism.
 * An administrative structure was builts based on Muslim and Chinese ideas.
 * Karakorum transforms into a cultural and intellectual center in which scholars are (maybe forcibly) brought from all around the empire by Genghis Khan in order to stimulate intellectual creativity.
 * A common type of script was devised in order unify the Mongolian masses and promote recordkeeping and standardization of laws. ||
 * T || MI: Most Mongol technological advancements were developed for military and siege purposes
 * Throught the help of Chinese artisans, the Mongol army developed new seige weapons after encountering fortified citied in the mid-east.
 * Among these were battering rams, catapults, and bamboo rockets.

"After decades of hard campaigning in the mid-13th century, the Mongols gained control of the greatest prize of all, China, which they ruled for a century. Although the Chinese capacity to assimilate nomadic conquerors was evident from the onset, the Mongols managed to retain a distinct culture an social separateness." (Book)
 * Kublai Khan led Mongol campaigns against the Song dynasty to the south; he eventually changed the name of his regime to Yuan, a Chinese-based dynastic title.
 * Kublai attempts to keep Mongols and Chinese separate; his capital at Tatu (Beijing) gleamed of Chinese influence and culture.
 * New social structure was devised with Mongols on top, Muslims and Asian nomads in the middle, and northern and southern Chinese as the working classes.

__ Gender Roles and the Convergence of Mongol and Chinese Culture: __ MI: Although Mongolian females attempt remain free from Chinese influence, Chinese culture continued to make its way into Mongolian society.
 * Mongolian women retain rights to property and control within and without the household (women leading hunting trips)
 * Chabi, the wife of Kublai Khan, was an important political and diplomatic adviser to her husband and promoted Buddhism throughout the highest levels of government.
 * Respect for own traditions and determination to preserve culture a main factor for continuing Mongol dominance.

__ Mongol Tolerance and Foreign Cultural Influence: __ MI: Under Kublai Khan, Mongol cities attracted the intellects and talents of men all over the empire and brought them together to stimulate intellectual life.
 * Because Muslims (Persians and Turks) were regarded as only below the Mongolians in the social ladder, they usually came to Mongolian cities to spread their knowledge and ideas.
 * Travelers and emissaries from foriegn land were welcomed by Kublai, as accounts of Mongol wealth were spread to Europe.
 * Many different faiths meet at Mongol cities in a religiously tolerant environment that continued to describe Mongol values (esp. those laid out by Genghis Khan)

__ Social Politics and Scholar-Gentry Resistance: __ MI: Although Kublai Khan made attempts to integrate Mongolian culture into its Chinese counterpart, there were many factors working against this "sinification" of Mongol culture.
 * Scholar-gentry loss great deal of power within bureaucracy because of removal of civil service exams by Kublai; resentment to Mongol dominance also add to this flame.
 * Kublai sought to revive artisan and merchant classes in China, something that goes against basic Confucius ideals. Sea trade also allows Mongols to expand even further.
 * Despite natrual suspicion of cities and agriculture, the Mongols seemed to be comfortable with both during the Yuan Dynasty as urbanization was proliferating.
 * Musical dramas flourished under Mongols; The Romance of the West Chamber was an example of this literature.
 * Kublai made sure that the peasantry was protected from the tyranny of the nobles; he also lowered taxes for the working classes.

__ The Fall of the House of Yuan: __ MI: The overexpansion and failures of the Mongol army, combined with internal occurrences in China were leading factors for the decline of the short-lived Yuan Dyansty.
 * Song revolts in the South military failures in Japan, Java, and Vietnam all undermined Mongol standings.
 * The elite Mongol class was softened by weakening of Kublai (because of the death of Chabi and his favorite son.) Kublai's successors lacked the ability to lead just as he lead.
 * By 1350, dynastic decline was apparent through failure of government to prevent piracy; local uprising by farmers in the South; religious sects such as The White Lotus Society that planned to overthrow the dynasty.
 * Ju Yuanzhang emerges to found the Ming Dynasty, which gained a grip on China for the next 300 years.

__ Aftershock: The Brief Ride of Timur: __ MI: The second group of nomads to explode from Central Asia were Turks led under TImur, and their victory was extremely short-lived.
 * Timur-i Lang was a Turk from a noble-classfamily; set on extremely violent conquests that were much fiercer than that of the Mongols.
 * Built pyramids out of the skulls of human heads; from the cities he pillaged and sacked.
 * His capital city was Samarkand; and his expansion brought no increase in trade, commerce, or cultural-exchange because no infrastructure was built (as the Mongols did).