Mongol Empire: Fear this! In the 1200 s, the time of the Crusades, a great and much feared empire was born in Asia. In great part it was created by one of the most powerful and ruthless men in history. Let me show you some great empire s of the past (overheads of Alexander s and Rome s). Now look and see the Mongol Empire, the largest ever!
Like Rome they started out with very little. The Mongols weren t a united people and they lived in many different tribes. Lived in tribes and blood feuds. Great horsemen. Lived north of what China and the Great Wall of China was built partially to keep them out. Remember that 1500 mile long wall built by Shih Hwang Ti which is also the longest cemetery in the world with over 300,000 buried within it. Harmless little tribes until the appearance of one man: Temujin: son of a chieftain in a small tribe. His father was murdered when he was a small child and he was forced into hiding. Survived on mice for a time Grew tough and nasty. Became a chieftain himself. Conquered the tribe that forced him out. Every male taller than a cart axle was executed. Conquered more tribes enemy chiefs were boiled alive. Ordered his own blood brother killed. Superstitious that if he spilled the blood of his brother then he would be haunted by his spirit. He had him crushed by piling rocks upon him. United all Mongol tribes by killing anyone or any tribe that defied him. Then renames himself. Genghis Khan: (1167-1227 A.D.) Universal ruler Ruler of all things under the stars. The Mongols under Khan 1) Brought peace through harsh law code Blood feuds, adultery, theft, lying, betrayal, sorcery, disobedience, peeing or doing laundry in running water. All crimes were punished with DEATH Religious tolerance as long as recognized Khan as supreme ruler. 2) Mongols are turned into a war machine!
All adult males in army until age 60. Promotion by merit and skill only Like the Huns before them, they are incredibly skilled archers and horsemen. Extremely powerful bows that the Mongols would stand in the stirrups and fire from at full gallop. Bows could pierce knightly armor like soft parmesan cheese in the microwave. Always practicing Great Hunt: Mongol method of practicing warfare. Warriors encircle hundreds of miles, bagging drums and scaring game before them. Once the circle closed they would use their bows to eliminate everything. Conquests of Genghis Khan Has a massive army, he s outlawed blood feuds, now he has to give them something to do path of conquest that makes him a legend. Northern China Genghis looks past the Great Wall to conquer the rich cities of China. His first invasions were not successful. No siege technology and walled cities of the Chinese gave him too much trouble. Returned several years later after stealing Chinese technology. Mongols now use siege towers, catapults and gunpowder Chinese invention stolen by the Mongols. Bamboo-tubed rockets and for blowing holes in walls. Sweeps into China destroying, pillaging and slaughtering. By sheer force of numbers he overwhelms the Chinese and leaves behinds mountains of human bones and horse skeletons. For a time attempts to turn northern China into grazing land, but his advisors convince him not to as there are too many people to kill. Conquers northern China.
Khwarizm I am the punisher of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you. Genghis Khan Now neighboring an Islamic state Khwarizm. Genghis sent a letter informing the Sultan Mohammad that he was now his overlord. The Sultan ignores the insulting letter. Perhaps in vengeance the Sultan has a Mongol trade caravan attacked and its goods taken. Genghis sent several ambassadors to work this out. Ambassadors ask for apology and the men responsible brought to justice. The Sultan beheaded the chief ambassador, burns the beards off the others and sends them back to Khan. Genghis probably would have invaded southern China but now Genghis armies sweep into Khwarizm on three fronts. One by one the cities fell. Defenders were slaughtered even if they surrendered. Some tried to join the Mongols. They were also killed. If city put up prolonged resistance the entire population was butchered. Cities were destroyed and burned to the ground. If population was not butchered civilians were driven before Mongol armies as human shields when attacking. Urganj: capital of Khwarizm. City falls after 7 days of fierce resistance by the cities population. All within are killed Animals in zoo are slaughtered Graves are emptied and bodies mangled River is diverted to flow through the city Don t know the exact location of this city even today Herat: largest city of Khwarizm. City surrenders. Mongols leave and it rebels. Six month siege. 1,600,000 are killed. Governor who convinced the people to rebel. Killed by having molten silver poured into his eyes and throat.
All killed except for fellow who falls off walls and down cliff. Mongols find him unhurt and spooked they let him go. Sultan Mohammad flees to an island in the Caspian and dies of exhaustion. Why the slaughter? Was there any reason? 1) FEAR: Opposing armies flee, cities surrender on site. Fewer battles, less resistance. 2) Create dead lands as buffer zones. Dead lands are not a threat to invade. Homeland security for Mongols. Skilled workers and craftsmen were not killed. If you weren t useful you were killed. Muslims ask Christians to end crusades and help against Mongols. Christians laugh! Crusaders ask Mongols for help against Muslims. Genghis sends back Acknowledge me as overlord or die. Death of Genghis Khan Thrown from his horse while invading into southern China. His death is kept a secret while armies continue invasions into southern China. Body is taken to a secret burial site. Body is buried with gold, horses and perhaps over 40 women. Horses trample the site for three days. 2,000 that attended the funeral are killed by 800 soldiers. The 800 soldiers are killed when they return to the capital. Tomb has not been found, but a team of archaeologists think they have it. Tribe of herders was told to guard the area and one still lives today. Tomb will probably rival that of King Tut!
Mongol Conquests Continue! Ogodei Khan: drunken son of Genghis becomes ruler. Promises only to drink two cups of alcohol a day. Has bigger and bigger cups. Eventually drinks himself to death. Fermented mare s milk. Batu Khan: Genghis grandson and general under Ogodei who invades Europe. Sends message Acknowledge me as overlord or be destroyed! Christians laugh. 150,000 Mongol horsemen invade Poland on three fronts! Spread terror killing all in their path. Battle of Leignitz: Polish army composed of 100,000 men including many thousands of church knights, Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights face 40,000 Mongol horsemen. One of the finest armies in western Europe! Mongols retreat quickly and gallop off as if they are running away. Whooo-hooooo say the knights and they charge uncontrollably leaving their foot soldiers behind. Mongols race retreat for miles with the knights chasing them. Then they turn and fire arrows up and over the charging knights. Knights think, Boy these guys are really bad shots. But they re smoke arrows. Thousands of them detonate between the knights and their foot soldiers and they can t see each other. Mongols then train their bows on the knights and like moldy cheese in a microwave they annihilate them. Mongols then race threw the clouds of smoke and explode upon the foot soldiers who were racing to catch up. The Polish armies are utterly destroyed. Batu collects nine sacks of ears to prove of his conquests and of the dead for drunk old Ogodei. In Hungary another Mongol army outnumbered 100,000 to 50,000 also completely destroys Hungarian forces. OH MY GOODDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Western Europe PANICS! Demons invade. Their women are more brutal than the men. They eat flesh. Pope issues crusade to save all Christendom. Then Mongols disappear. Wow we must have scared them off! Ogodei drank himself to death and Batu had to return to elect a new Khan. Planned on returning another time but never does. Europe could not have stood up to the Mongols. Kublai Khan: Genghis grandson and great Khan who conquers southern China. Marco Polo: Venetian trader serves Kublai for 17 years. Returns to Venice and his story is written in a book Description of the World. Story is a sensation in Europe telling of the wonders and riches of China. Show the Mongol Empire Conquest of Japan Kublai orders Japan to recognize him as overlord. They refuse. Invasion. Japan: feudal kingdom defended by the samurai warriors. Only problem is the Mongols must build a fleet to transport their armies. No problem. Kublai builds a massive fleet and sets sail. Massive storm blows in. They decide to weather it at sea. Bad decision. Fleet and armies are destroyed. Second massive invasion fleet. One will land at the north end of the island. The other at the southern end and they ll meet in the middle. Another storm destroys the Mongol armies once more. Kublai give up conquest of Japan. Since then Japan has given thanks to: Kamikaze: the divine wind
Impact of the Mongol Empire 1) Population decrease! 2) Permanent destruction of the irrigation system in Mesopotamia 3) Peace, order and trade throughout Asia Japan Land of feudal kingdoms and samurai knights Shogun: general feudal leaders and commanders of the military. (Lords) Samurai: one who serves armored warrior. Bamboo plated armor. Carried a longbow and the katana. Katana: big sword incredibly sharp curved sword. Cut leaves in a stream. Took years to make. Wakizashi: little sword smaller curved sword at the belt. Use it to take the head of your honored opponent. All samurai lived by a code of honor like chivalry. Chivalry still lives with us and this code still lives with the Japanese. Bushido: The way 1) All loyalty to your shogun 2) Death rather than dishonor 3) Vengeance Death is lighter than a feather, but duty is weightier than a mountain. IF YOU DO DISHONOR YOURSELF THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO REGAIN HONOR! Seppuku! Hari-kari: kneel and with your short sword disembowel yourself. Today suicide is deplored in Japan but it doesn t have the same horrific overtones as it does here. Suicide is a cowardly act or the act of person who is not well. It s not thought of that way in Japan and they have the one of the higher suicide rates in the world.