The Mongols
Steppe Geography
There are two major steppes in China, the e astern Steppe and the western Steppe. The eastern steppe is where Mongolia is today, and the western steppes is from Central Asia to the eastern parts of Europe. These steppes had extremely harsh weather which made the Mongols very hardy and rugged people. This weather consisted of little rainfall and crazy temperature changes. The Mongols adaptation to the eastern and western steppe made them tough people who could endure harsh conditions.
Genghis Khan
A man named Temujin, who was born into a Mongol clan would be the leader that unified the Mongols. After leading his people to many victories in battle, he took the name of Universal Ruler of the Mongol clans, also known as Genghis Khan. As ruler of the Mongols, Genghis had his eyes on other empires like China and the Jin Empire, which he would later defeat. However, he woould later focus on conquering the Islamic region of Asia, due to a few of his traders being killed by Muslims. He would slaughter the people and conquer all the Islamic land, making him ruler of all Central Asia. Genghis was also a great leader and had many great qualities like being a magnificent tactician and organizer.
Khanates
Genghis Khan's son and grandson took his position as ruler of the Mongols. During this time, they would conquer lands west of them in Europe. With all of this land that they had to keep under their power, the Mongols decided to divide their empire into four major regions. Each region was known as a Khanate. The four Khanates were known as the Khanate of the Great Khan, the Khanate of Chagatai, the Ilkhanate, and the Khanate of the Golden Horde. Each khanate was ruled by the descendants of Genghis Khan.
Pax Mongolica
The Pax Mongolica, also knowns as The Mongol Peace, was from the mid 1200's to the mid 1300's, and was a thriving as well as peaceful time for the Mongols. This peace brought up many things, especially trading. Europe and Asia at the time were very involved in trading. This trading between Asia and Europe not only spread different goods, but it also spread many ideas. Also, this trading is what is believed to be the cause of the Bubonic Plague, or Black Death. This disease would killed a substantial portion of Europe as well as Asia.
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Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan took his grandather's position as Great Khan, Genghis Khan. Kublai's most famous accomplishment would have to be the conquering of China. He unified China, something that had not been done in a long time. However, Kublai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty. During this time, he united the Mongols and China. Also, Kublai moved the capital from Mongolia to China, which showed that Kublai tried to move away from the steppe. Not all good came out of Kublai Khan's rule. When Kublai decided to extend his empire, he focused on Japan. While attacking Japan, his army was held long enough by the Japanese that a typhoon came and crushed their ships, as well as Kublai's army. Because Kublai khan ruled during the Mongol Peace, trade was a big part of the empire. Also, many inventions came up like gunpowder and printing, the compass, and other valuables were a big of their trade which created a great economy. After Kublai Khan's death, the empire basically just fell apart due to rule problems and rebellions.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian trader. He was traveling to Asia with his uncle and father on the Silk Road. Later, he arrived at Kublai Khan's court. During his time in Asia, he learned many local languages. Kublai used Marco to communicate and travel to many cities. He worked 17 years under Kublai Khan, and then left to return back to Venice.
Decline of the Mongols
Once Kulbai Khan died, the Yuan Empire which consisted of the Mongols, began to fall apart. Because of Kublai's death, there was a great struggle for power between his descendants. Also, riots and rebellions began because of things like floods and diseases. They rebelled because they were not being helped or treated well during this. The people believed that the Yuan Dynasty leaders had lost the Mandate of Heaven. The leader of these rebels founded the Ming Dynasty. When the Yuan Dynasty fell, so did the Mongols because of lack of connection. This was due to the Mongol ways of adopting cultures of the empires they conquered. (2)
(2) Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littel, 2005. Print.
Steppe Geography
There are two major steppes in China, the e astern Steppe and the western Steppe. The eastern steppe is where Mongolia is today, and the western steppes is from Central Asia to the eastern parts of Europe. These steppes had extremely harsh weather which made the Mongols very hardy and rugged people. This weather consisted of little rainfall and crazy temperature changes. The Mongols adaptation to the eastern and western steppe made them tough people who could endure harsh conditions.
Genghis Khan
A man named Temujin, who was born into a Mongol clan would be the leader that unified the Mongols. After leading his people to many victories in battle, he took the name of Universal Ruler of the Mongol clans, also known as Genghis Khan. As ruler of the Mongols, Genghis had his eyes on other empires like China and the Jin Empire, which he would later defeat. However, he woould later focus on conquering the Islamic region of Asia, due to a few of his traders being killed by Muslims. He would slaughter the people and conquer all the Islamic land, making him ruler of all Central Asia. Genghis was also a great leader and had many great qualities like being a magnificent tactician and organizer.
Khanates
Genghis Khan's son and grandson took his position as ruler of the Mongols. During this time, they would conquer lands west of them in Europe. With all of this land that they had to keep under their power, the Mongols decided to divide their empire into four major regions. Each region was known as a Khanate. The four Khanates were known as the Khanate of the Great Khan, the Khanate of Chagatai, the Ilkhanate, and the Khanate of the Golden Horde. Each khanate was ruled by the descendants of Genghis Khan.
Pax Mongolica
The Pax Mongolica, also knowns as The Mongol Peace, was from the mid 1200's to the mid 1300's, and was a thriving as well as peaceful time for the Mongols. This peace brought up many things, especially trading. Europe and Asia at the time were very involved in trading. This trading between Asia and Europe not only spread different goods, but it also spread many ideas. Also, this trading is what is believed to be the cause of the Bubonic Plague, or Black Death. This disease would killed a substantial portion of Europe as well as Asia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan took his grandather's position as Great Khan, Genghis Khan. Kublai's most famous accomplishment would have to be the conquering of China. He unified China, something that had not been done in a long time. However, Kublai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty. During this time, he united the Mongols and China. Also, Kublai moved the capital from Mongolia to China, which showed that Kublai tried to move away from the steppe. Not all good came out of Kublai Khan's rule. When Kublai decided to extend his empire, he focused on Japan. While attacking Japan, his army was held long enough by the Japanese that a typhoon came and crushed their ships, as well as Kublai's army. Because Kublai khan ruled during the Mongol Peace, trade was a big part of the empire. Also, many inventions came up like gunpowder and printing, the compass, and other valuables were a big of their trade which created a great economy. After Kublai Khan's death, the empire basically just fell apart due to rule problems and rebellions.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian trader. He was traveling to Asia with his uncle and father on the Silk Road. Later, he arrived at Kublai Khan's court. During his time in Asia, he learned many local languages. Kublai used Marco to communicate and travel to many cities. He worked 17 years under Kublai Khan, and then left to return back to Venice.
Decline of the Mongols
Once Kulbai Khan died, the Yuan Empire which consisted of the Mongols, began to fall apart. Because of Kublai's death, there was a great struggle for power between his descendants. Also, riots and rebellions began because of things like floods and diseases. They rebelled because they were not being helped or treated well during this. The people believed that the Yuan Dynasty leaders had lost the Mandate of Heaven. The leader of these rebels founded the Ming Dynasty. When the Yuan Dynasty fell, so did the Mongols because of lack of connection. This was due to the Mongol ways of adopting cultures of the empires they conquered. (2)
(2) Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littel, 2005. Print.