Mongols 2.2

• What remarkable feats did the Mongols achieve during the thirteenth century?


  Organization, planning, endurance, courage, slaughter, destruction, and terror
• How did the Mongol empire manage its subject peoples?


  By exploiting and protecting them
• What were the consequences of the large-scale displacements of population in the Mongol empire?


  Widespread exchanges of ideas, goods, techniques, and the spread of disease
• When did the Mongol empire's heyday end?


  After its first century
• What was one of the long-lasting legacies of the Mongol empire?


  A firm and lasting unification of China
• What were the four large Mongol kingdoms that emerged after Chinggis Khan's empire?


  • Khanate of the Golden Horde
  • Il-Khan Empire
  • Chagatai Khanate
  • Empire of the Great Khan
• What role did the Mongol rulers, called khans, play during their rule?


  They facilitated contact and promoted interaction between diverse peoples
• What does the name Chinggis Khan mean?


  "Universal lord"
• How has the spelling of Chinggis Khan varied in European languages?


  It has been spelled as Genghis, Chingiz, Djingis, Djenghiz, and Jankiz
• What was the name of the most powerful Mongol tribe before Chinggis Khan?

  Tatars
• What did John of Plano Carpini observe about the Tatar people?


  They were obedient subjects who treated each other with respect
• How did the Mongols view their women according to William of Rubruck?


  Women were responsible for driving carts and managing household tasks
• What did the Hungarian bishop report about the beliefs of the Mongols?


  They believed nothing and aimed to conquer the world
• How did Matthew Paris describe the Mongols in the 1270s?


  As inhuman and beastly, more ferocious than lions or bears
• What qualities did the southern Chinese author attribute to Chinggis Khan?


  Bravery, decisiveness, self-control, and leniency towards the population
• What did the Indian historian Juzjani note about Chinggis Khan's physical appearance?


  He was tall, robust, with scanty white hair and cat's eyes
• What did Chinggis Khan claim about his relationship with his soldiers?


  He cared for them as if they were his brothers
• What was one of Chinggis Khan's sayings regarding leadership?


  Only a man who feels hunger and thirst is fit to be a commander
• What was the significance of Chinggis Khan's laws regarding captives?


  They emphasized the importance of discipline and respect for authority
• What were the key aspects of Chinggis Khan's governance?


  • Respect for all religions
  • Emphasis on loyalty and justice
  • Care for soldiers and their families
  • Strict discipline and order
• What was the Mongol empire's impact on the spread of Islam?


  It contributed to the further expansion of Islam
• How did the Mongols manage to conquer such vast territories?


  Through remarkable organization and military strategy
• What was the relationship between the Mongols and the cultures they conquered?


  The Mongols promoted interaction and exchange between different cultures
• What activities did people engage in according to Rashid al-Din's account?


  They rode horses, admired rosy cheeks, and kissed red lips.
• What was the message conveyed to rebels according to Chinggis Khan's laws?


  Submit for peace and benevolence, or face an uncertain future known only to God.
• What was the consequence for giving food or clothing to a captive without permission?


  Such an act would result in the death of the person who provided the aid.
• What roles did women play in the Mongol military according to the laws?


  Women performed the duties of men while they were absent fighting.
• What was the stance on religions according to the Mongol laws?


  All religions were to be respected without showing preference to any.
• What did Chinggis Khan say about sparing the life of an enemy leader's son?


  He believed sparing the son would only lead to future rebellion.
• What was decided at the Grand Council meeting in 1202 regarding the Tartars?


  They decided to massacre all Tartars except the youngest as revenge.
• What were the characteristics of the Mongol army under Chinggis Khan?


  • All males aged 15-70 served as cavalry.
  • The army of 10,000 was organized into units of 1,000, 100, and 10.
  • Members from different tribes were mixed for loyalty.
  • Absolute obedience to orders was enforced.
  • Officers had tight control over troops' actions.
  • No one was paid; all shared in the booty.
  • Large-scale hunting expeditions served as military training.
  • Intelligence gathering was prioritized.
  • Foreign experts were used for siege weaponry.
• Who were the members of the highest level of government in the Mongol Empire?

  Chinggis Khan and his family, especially his sons by his senior wife.
• What was the issue with the rules of succession in the Mongol Empire?


  Lack of clear-cut rules led to power struggles after each ruler's death.
• How did Chinggis Khan choose his administrators?


  He selected them based on demonstrated high performance, regardless of wealth or class.
• How did John of Plano Carpini describe the Mongol homeland?


  It was extremely mountainous in some parts and flat in others, with few trees.
• What was the average mean temperature in January in the Mongol homeland?


  The average mean temperature is minus 34 degrees centigrade.
• What challenges did travelers face in the Mongol homeland according to William of Rubruck?


  Long-distance travel was tough due to difficult terrain and weather conditions.
• What were the conditions of the climate in the Mongol homeland?


  • Long, cold winters with temperatures as low as minus 55 degrees.
  • Extreme temperature fluctuations from day to day.
  • Little rainfall, mostly during summer months.
  • Evidence of a cooler and drier climate before and during the Mongol conquests.
• Why were horses essential to the Mongol way of life?


  They were pastured on the open steppe and were crucial for mobility.
• What was the ideal number of horses for a mounted soldier?


  Every mounted soldier ideally possessed a string of remounts.