History of the Mongols
Mongolia, a landlocked country surrounded by Russia and China, is a place where old meets new. With a growing modern landscape complete with skyscrapers and industrial plants, remnants of ancient Mongolia remain as a testament to the triumphs of the past. Though a largely modernized country at present, Mongolia is the just a small part of the land once roamed and settled by the ancient Mongols. At its height of power during the 13th and 14th century, the Mongol Empire encompassed Persia, Russia, Central Asia and China over four Khanates, or regions subject to Mongol rule. Originally nomadic tribes that roamed the plains to the north of China, the Mongols had been so divided among their tribes that the unification necessary to control an empire seemed unlikely (Craig 85). Yet, with the emergence of Genghis Khan as a fearless leader in 1206, the Mongols did the unexpected (Britannica Encyclopedia 1).
As skilled warrior people, the Mongols were able to successfully conquer these vast lands through gruesome military campaigns in which the mobility of a cavalry and use of the compound bow proved advantageous (Craig 85). He divided the rule of the Khanates among his four sons. Mainly interested in the wealth of the lands they controlled, the Mongols set up a tributary taxation system and had access to key trading routes, posts and cities, which greatly increased their wealth. By operating under a tributary system, it was evident that the Mongols had no interest in really controlling the lands they conquered outside of their finances. Although Genghis Khan did not live to see the full glory of the Mongol empire, his grandson, Kublai Khan, completed his plans of domination. Much like his grandfather, Kublai had a lasting impact on the development of China as the leader of the Yuan Dynasty in China (Craig 87). In efforts to maintain the system inherited from his grandfather, Kublai Khan relied heavily on local people to oversee the operations within a particular portion of the empire. This allowed for a relationship to flourish in which different cultural and religious practices were tolerated in efforts to maintain control of the dynasty. Yet, as cultural growth was occurring, public unrest with the inefficiencies of the Mongol leaders rose to an all time high allowing uprisings to bring about the gradual dissolution of the Mongolian Empire beginning in the 14th century. Despite a short lived reign, The Mongols played a large role in history. Buildings are erected and holidays are created to commemorate the legacy left behind by these ancient warriors, ensuring that the Mongols will be cemented in history. |
Historical Citations:
Craig, Albert M. The Heritage of Chinese Civilization. Third ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2011. 1-192. Print. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Mongol. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2 May 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. Image Citations: Mongolian Armored Warriors and Horse. Field Museum, n.d. jpg. Mongol Empire Map. MrSpencerInfo, 2014. jpg. Kublai Khan. Bio. A& E Television Networks, 2014. jpg. Mongolian Landscape. Volunteer with Mongolian Nomads. One World 365, 2014. jpg. Mongolian Flag. New Mission Initiative in Hungary. European Baptist Federation, 2014. gif. Massimo Pizzotti. Monument of Genghis Khan. Getty Images, |
Group Members: Darlene Brown (Art), Margaret Citron (Religion), Sydney Randell (Home Page), Jeremy Washington (Culture)