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Guided Reading & Analysis: The Mongols and Transregional Empires

Chapter 13- Mongols
Reading Assignment:
Ch 13 AMSCO
Purpose:
This guide is not only a place to record notes as you read, but also to provide a place and structure for
reflections and analysis using higher level thinking skills with new knowledge gained from the reading.

Basic Directions:
1. Pre-Read: Read the prompts/questions within this guide before you read the chapter.
2. Skim: Flip through the chapter and note the titles and subtitles. Look at images and their
read captions. Get a feel for the content you are about to read.
3. Read/Analyze: Read the chapter. Remember, the goal is not to “fish” for a specific answer(s) to
reading guide questions, but to consider questions in order
to critically understand what you read!
4. Write Write your notes and analysis in the spaces provided.
Key Concepts For Period 3 600-1450
Key Concept 3.1 Expansion and Intensification of communication and exchange networks
1. Improved transportation technologies and commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade, and expanded the geographical
range of existing and newly active trade networks.
II. The movement of peoples caused environmental and linguistic effects.
III.Cross-cultural exchanges were fostered by the intensification of existing, or the creation of new, networks of trade and
communication.
Key Concept 3.2 I. Empires collapsed and were reconstituted; in some regions new state forms emerged.
Key Concept 3.2 II. Interregional contacts and conflicts between states and empires encouraged significant technological and cultural
transfers
Key Concept 3.3 Increased productive capacity and its’ consequences II. The fate of cities varied greatly, with periods of
significant decline, and periods of increased urbanization buoyed by rising productivity and expanding trade networks
III. Despite significant continuities in social structures and in methods of production, there were also some important changes
in labor management and in the effects of religious conversion on gender relations and family life.

1. The Mongols and their beginnings

Key Concepts &
Main Ideas Notes pg 241-243 Analysis

Key Concept 3.2 I. Where did the Mongols originate from? How did Central Asian steppe impact their lifestyle?
Empires collapsed
and were
reconstituted; in
Describe their lifestyle:
some regions new
state forms emerged
How did they adapt to their environment?

What trade route did the Mongols want to be closer to and why?

What is a yurt?

Who was Temujin? What methods did he use to become more powerful?

What is a kurlitai? Why would this create a more ‘egalitarian” society?

What name did he take and why?

What present day city did Genghis conquer? Where did he begin his empire How did the Mongols gain the reputation of being
building? brutal?

How did his methods of fighting prevent future

What areas did he later conquer? rebellions?

Describe the weaponry the Mongols used:

How was his military organized?(Be specific)

How did their nomadic lifestyles aid in conquering

How did he maintain communication while building his empire? empires?

Describe his fighting style: If his enemies did not surrender who would he kill and
why?

*Synthesis-how was his communication system similar to the Pony Who did he chose not to kill and why?
express(think reasons, context, goals)

Or how was Pax Mongolica similar to Pax Romana

Where was the Mongol capital?

Why do you think the Mongols were more “liberal’ in

What was the Mongol policies on religion? terms of religious freedom?

Who succeeded Genghis and why?

What methods of empire building and governing did he

Where did he expand the Mongol empire to? focus on?
2. Mongolian Empire Expands
Key Concepts &
Main Ideas Notes pg 244-247 Analysis

Key Concept 3.1 Mongols transferred knowledge from China, Europe and Middle East about
Expansion and 1.
Intensification of 2.
3.
communication
4.
and exchange 5.
networks 6.
1. Improved
transportation Crusaders transferred knowledge from Europe & Middle East about
technologies and 1.
commercial 2.
practices led to 3.
an increased 4.
5.
volume of trade, 6.
and expanded the 7.
geographical 8.
range of existing 9.
and newly active Why did the empire become divided?
trade networks. Define Khanate:
II. The
movement of
peoples caused
environmental Golden Horde was the Mongol Rule in _______________. Why did the perception of Mongol rule change after
and linguistic they conquered Russia?
effects. Explain how Golden Horde established rule over them:
III.Cross-cultural
exchanges were
fostered by the What happened to the city of Kiev? How does the destruction of Kiev connect to growth
intensification of of Moscow?
existing, or the
creation of new,
networks of trade
and What stopped the Mongols from further invading Eastern Europe? Why did the Mongols choose a more indirect rule of
communication. Russia?

What led to the decline of Mongol rule in Russia? How did Mongol rule impact the relationship of
Russia and Western Europe?

Why do you think Russia remained feudalistic at the

same time period Western Europe was relying less
on feudalism?

How did Mongol rule help create a sense of Russian

identity?

Who conquered the Abbasid dynasty?

 How did the Mongol siege of Baghdad impact the
What did they do to Baghdad? Islamic religion?

Why did the Muslim Mamluks and Christian

What is the name of the Khanate they set up after they conquered the Abbasid Crusaders sign a temporary alliance?
dynasty?

Why would they leave them as local officials instead

Who did the Mongols put in charge of bureaucracy in this khanate? of putting Mongols in that position?
1. Improved
transportation
technologies
and commercial
practices led to
an increased Who conquered the Song Dynasty?
volume of trade,
and expanded
the geographical
range of What did he name this dynasty? Why would he choose a Chinese name for his
existing and dynasty?
newly active
trade networks
What policies did he institute?
Why would Buddhists support Mongol rule?

What evidence is there that this was a “Golden Age” of culture for China?

Why would Italians doubt his description of China?

Which merchant visited China in the 13th century?

Why would the Mongols get rid of the civil service

Why did many Chinese resent Kublai Khan’s rule? exam system?

Why did Mongols try to separate from the Chinese population?

How did Mongol rule in China begin to decline?

How does Mongol conquest compare to the world’s deadliest wars?

Summarize the long term impact of Mongol invasions:

1.

2.

3.
 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Part 2
Historical Was Genghis Khan a brutal destroyer who murdered millions, or was he a Analysis
Perspectives: How great unifier who promoted prosperity by unifying most of Eurasia?
Brutal was
Genghis Khan Many historians emphasize that Khan was a bloodthirsty tyrant. Military Analysis
historian Steven R. Ward writes that “Overall the Mongol violence and How does Ward view Genghis and what
depredations killed up to ¾ of the population of the Iranian Plateau.” Total evidence does he present?
deaths attributed to the Mongols during his rule and the rule of his
descendents often reach the tens of millions. Stories of his massacres of
innocent people and of using unarmed civilians to protect his own soldiers
show him to have little regard for human life.

Other historians focus more on Khan’s rule as a great leader and hero.
Mongolian scholars, showing their national pride in their most famous
countryman, argue that his reputation for brutality has been exaggerated. As What evidence is there that Genghis was a
historians from Europe and the United States have focused more on trade great leader and not bloodthirsty tyrant?
and toleration, they have noted the benefits of the Mongol’s rule. Genghis
Khan forged a united China and established a system of Eurasian trade that
renewed the links between China and Europe that had lapsed. Further, the
Mongols were open to ideas and tolerant of different religions. Khan believed
in a meritocracy, and he established one writing systems across his empire.
His rule opened the way for new systems of laws, for trade and for cultural
expansion.
Which view do you agree with and why?
One Persian historians take a position broad enough that everyone can
agree with: “Genghis was possessed of great energy, discernment, genius
and understanding, awe-inspiring, a butcher, just, resolute, an over-thrower
of enemies, intrepid, sanguinary, and cruel”.

Part 3HIPP:

In the spring of 618/1221, the people of Nishapur (a city in Persia) saw that the matter was serious ... and
although they had three thousand crossbows in action on the wall and had set up three hundred mangonels
and ballistas and laid in a correspondent quantity of missiles and naphtha, their feet were loosened and
they lost heart.... By the Saturday night all the walls were covered with Mongols;... The Mongols now
descended from the walls and began to slay and plunder.... They then drove all the survivors, men and
 women, out onto the plain; and ... it was commanded that the town should be laid waste in such a manner
that the site could be ploughed upon; and that ... not even cats and dogs should be left alive.... They severed
the heads of the slain from their bodies and heaped them up in piles, keeping those of the men separate from
those of the women and children.

Source: : Ata-Malik Juvaini, Genghis Khan: The History of the World Conqueror. Juvaini was a Persian
chronicler who was in the employ of the Mongol Il-khan of Persia who served under the Mongols as the
governor of Baghdad. He wrote this account about forty years after the destruction of Nishapur.

Historical Context:

Intended Audience:

Author’s Purpose:

Author’s Point of View: