THE MONGOL EMPIRE

THE MONGOLS • After Genghis’s death, his sons and grandsons continued the campaign of conquest.
• They completed their conquest of northern China and invaded Korea.
• The cities of Venice and Vienna were within their grasp.

Part 2 • They turned their attention to Persia.

• By 1260, the Mongols had divided their huge empire into four regions, or khanates.
• The khanates:
• Genghis Khan died in 1227 from illness.
• His successors continued to expand his empire. 1. The Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China)
• In less than 50 years, the Mongols conquered territory from China to 2. The Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia)
Poland. 3. The Khanate of Ilkhanate (Persia)
4. The Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia)

THE MONGOLS AS RULERS THE MONGOL PEACE

1. Many of the areas invaded by the Mongols were never • The Mongols imposed stability and law and order across much of Eurasia.
recovered. • This period is called the Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace.
• The Mongols guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries from one
2. In addition, the Mongols destroyed ancient irrigation systems in areas such as
the Tigris and Euphrates valleys. end of the empire to another.
• Trade between Europe and Asia had never been more active. Ideas and inventions traveled along
with the trade goods.
3. The Mongols were quite tolerant in peace. • Many Chinese innovations, such as gunpowder, reached Europe during this period.
• Other things spread along with the goods and the ideas.
4. They rarely imposed their beliefs or way of life on those they
conquered.
 KUBLAI KHAN BECOMES EMPEROR
As China’s new The Yuan era was an After conquering
important period in China, Kublai Khan
• Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, assumed the title Great Khan in 1260. emperor, Kublai Khan Chinese history.
founded a new tried to extend his rule
• The Great Khan ruled the entire Mongol Empire. 1.Kublai Khan united
dynasty called the China for the first time in to Japan. In 1274 and
• The empire had split into four khanates. Other descendants of Genghis ruled Central Asia, Yuan Dynasty. more than 300 years. again in 1281, the
Persia, and Russia as semi-independent states. Therefore, Kublai focused instead on It lasted less than a 2. The control imposed Great Khan sent huge
extending the power and range of his own khanate, which already included Mongolia, century. by the Mongols across all fleets against Japan.
of Asia opened China to
Korea, Tibet, and northern China. greater foreign contacts
and trade.
• To begin, however, he had to fulfill the goal of his grandfather to conquer all of China. The Mongols forced
3. Kublai and his
• China lost territory to nomadic groups, but no foreigner had ever ruled the whole country. successors tolerated Koreans to build, sail,
Chinese culture and made and provide provisions
few changes to the
system of government. for the boats, a costly
task that almost ruined
Korea.
Both times the
Japanese turned back
the Mongol fleets.

THE MONGOLS AND THE CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE

• The Mongol rulers had little in common with their Chinese subjects.
• Foreign trade increased under Kublai Khan.
• Because of their differences, the Mongols kept a separate identity.
• This was largely due to the Mongol Peace, which made the trade routes across Central
• Mongols lived apart from the Chinese and obeyed different laws.
Asia safe for trade and travel.
• They kept the Chinese out of high government offices, although they retained as many
Chinese officials as possible to serve on the local level. • Traders transported Chinese silk and porcelain, which were greatly valued in Europe
and western Asia over the Silk Roads and other routes.
• Most of the highest government posts went to Mongols or to foreigners.
• These traders also carried with them such Chinese products and inventions such as
• Despite his differences with the Chinese, Kublai Khan was an able leader. He restored the
Grand Canal and extended it 135 miles north to Beijing. Along its banks he built a paved printing, gunpowder, the compass, paper currency, and playing cards.
highway from Hangzhou to Beijing. These land and water routes ensured the north a • Kublai further encouraged trade by inviting foreign merchants to visit China.
steady supply of grain and other goods from the southern heartland.
 THE END OF MONGOL RULE
• During the last years of Kublai Khan’s reign, weaknesses began to appear in Mongol
rule.
• In an attempt to further expand his empire, Kublai sent several expeditions into
Southeast Asia.
• Heavy spending on fruitless wars, on public works, and on the luxuries of the Yuan
court burdened the treasury and created resentment among the overtaxed Chinese.
• This presented problems that Kublai’s less able successors could not resolve.