WORLD HISTORY

 Red Flag Questions

Pages 316 - 321

CHAPTER 11: CULTURES OF EAST ASIA 550 - 1400 AD

SECTION 2: The Mongol Empire

By the end of this section, you will be able to answer these questions:

THE MONGOLS

Nomads from the Steppe

  • What were the steppes?
  • Describe the way of life for a pastoralist.
  • What was the traditional way of life for the Mongols?
  • Why did they develop into tough people and fierce warriors?

The Universal Ruler

  • Describe the social structure of the Mongols.
  • khan
  • Genghis Khan
  • How did Genghis Khan set out to build an empire?
  • Describe the Mongols military tactics.
  • Describe the brutality and psychological warfare of the Mongols.

The Mongol Empire

  • At the time of Genghis Khan’s death, how much land was included in his empire?
  • How did the Mongols divide Genghis Khan’s empire after his death?
  • Who ruled the entire region?
  • List the four regions and who ruled each.
  • What saved Western Europe from the Mongols invasion?

The Mongol Peace

  • Describe how the Mongols ruled their empire.
  • What religion did the Mongols adopt?
  • Pax Mongolia
  • What contributed to this time of peace?

THE YUAN DYNASTY

  • Kublai Khan
  • What conquest did Kublai Khan try to complete which he had begun in 1235?
  • What dynasty did Kublai Khan create after defeating the last Song ruler?

Kublai Khan Rules China

  • How did Kublai Khan attempt to gain Chinese loyalty?
  • How did Kublai Khan keep the Mongols from being absorbed into Chinese culture?
  • How did Kublai Khan structure the government in China under his rule?
  • What burden did the Mongols place on the Chinese and why?
  • What precaution did the Mongols take to keep rebellions from happening?

Foreign Trade

  • Why did foreign trade increase during the rule of Kublai Kahn?

Marco Polo in China

  • Who was Marco Polo?
  • What was the relationship between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo?
  • How did Marco Polo describe China?
  • Why do some scholars question whether Marco Polo made it to China or not?

END OF THE YUAN DYNASTY

  • What was the first cause that began to weaken the Yuan dynasty?
  • Describe the two battles with Japan.
  • Kamikaze
  • Besides military loses, what else contributed to the decline of the dynasty?
  • What happened after Kublai Khan’s death that further weakened the dynasty?
  • When did Mongol rule finally end in China?