Trial of The Mongols

The Judge:

The Honorable Jeremy Ketterling, presiding.

The Charges

The Mongol conquerors are charged with the destruction andruin of Eurasian society.

The Trial (Prodedure)

  • The trial will last no more than 120 minutes
  • 1-2mins – opening statement – Prosecution
  • 1-2 mins – opening statement – Defense
  • 45 – 50 mins – Witnesses for Prosecution (direct questions and cross examination)
  • 45 – 50 mins – Witnesses for Defense (direct questions and cross examination)
  • 3mins – closing statement – Prosecution
  • 3mins – closing statement – Defense

Prosecution and Defense Attorneys

  • Attorneys will work in teams of 4
  • The first job of the attorneys is to read the sources and select witnesses
  • A packet of documents will be posted to Public Folders as source information for the trial
  • All information for the trial MUST come from the sources on Public Folders
  • All testimony not supported by the document set is inadmissible.
  • Additional evidence documents must be approved by the teacher.
  • Additional evidence might be added to provide more in-depth background for testimony.
  • Additional evidence might also be added to support calling a witness that is not currently represented in the document set.
  • All lawyers should be assigned witnesses. They will need to direct AND cross. Their written preparation requirement is to hand in a Brief Statement for each assigned witness that includes what charge you will question them on, a list of questions and what you hope they will prove. This does not have to be in narrative format. It can be an outline format or a bullet pointed list with a brief statement for each. It must be typed. But, you MUST be prepared to do your job. You should meet with your witness briefly to discuss your strategy with them.
  • Preview the list of possible witnesses and decide which of them would be the best to support your objectives
    (acquittal or conviction).
  • Develop a list of questions for your witnesses and anticipate which witnesses may be called to testify for your opposition. How might you discredit them? Remember to work as a team.
  • Someone in your legal team should prepare aBRIEF opening and closing statements. (1 to 2 minutes)

Witnesses

  1. Christian visitor to Mongol Empire(William of Rubruc or John of Plano Carpini)
  2. Average resident of Baghdad
  3. Lamaist Buddhist leader of Tibet
  4. Chinese farmer
  5. Ming Emperor Hongwu
  6. Marco Polo
  7. Khwarazm Shah
  8. Confucian Scholar
  9. Chabi (Kubilai Khan’s wife)

The Jury

  • Jury members will take notes to be familiar with all issues and witnesses. Be sure to note the point of view of allwitnesses’
  • Create a T chart using historical evidence to examine the positive and negative aspects of Mongolian rule.
  • Write a page explanation describing the rationale for your decision.

Witnesses

Witnesses must learn their character

  • Witnesses are to prepare for their role by studying evidence in Public Folders
  • Witnesses are to determine what their character would say and how their character would act.
  • Witnesses will have to answer questions that CAN BE SUPPORTED by the documents in Public Folders.
  • This may be explicitly written in the text or implied
  • Write a profile of your character that explains:
  • What contact you had with the Mongols (how they impacted you)
  • What you would say about the Mongols if you were put on the stand
  • Include copies of internet sources or documents that you used
  • Anticipate questions that attorneys might ask you and prepare to answer those questions
  • Each witness will be questioned by the attorneys that called them to the stand and will also be cross-examined by the other team of lawyers.
  • Witnesses should bring a packet of supporting info to the stand to use as evidence in case of challenge.

Other Trial Procedures

  • Attorneys must prepare their case and questions
  • Each set of attorneys must call at least 5 and no more than 6 witnesses during the trial.
  • Attorneys will have to determine which witnesses will help their case and only call them.
  • Attorneys may meet with witnesses to discuss if they would be useful to call to the stand.
  • Attorneys must notify the witnesses that they will call to the stand and provide each witness with the questions they will be asking them.
  • Attorneys must also anticipate the witnesses that will be called by the other side and draft questions for cross-examination. These questions will not be shared with the witnesses.
  • Attorneys may have the opportunity to challenge testimony that is not accurate and witnesses will have to provide the court with the supporting evidence if they want their testimony to be admissible.
  • Objections during the trial
  • Only the attorneys can object
  • Attorneys may only object on a few grounds
  • Lack of Evidence:
  • This is the most important form of objection.
  • All testimony must be supported by the evidentiary documents!
  • Any testimony given can be challenged based on not being in the document set.
  • If challenged, the witness must cite where in the document set this testimony is supported. Failure to cite the source will lead to testimony being stricken.
  • Leading Questions: Questions in which the attorney asking the question gives the witness the answer they would like to hear in the wording of the question.
  • Badgering the Witness: Attorneys may object if a witness is being badgered by an opposing attorney. Attorneys may not harass witnesses in any way, especially asking the same question over-and-over again.
  • The judge will make all rulings on evidence and objections!

Witness Summaries

William of Rubruck

  • You are a Franciscan Friar and missionary who traveled to the Mongol capital, Karakorum.
  • From your journey, you should know some details of various aspects of Mongol life and beliefs.
  • You should also be able to speak about safety on the trade routes you took to get there.
  • You should be able to share details about how you and other foreigners were treated in the Mongol capital.

Russian Prince

  • You are one of many wealthy Russian Princes that has ruled over the peasantry of your region of feudal Russia.
  • As a Russian Prince, you had control over many aspects of the lives of your serfs.
  • Many Russian Princes were massacred as part of the Mongol attack on Russia.
  • You survived the onslaught but you heard all of the details of the brutal Mongol attack and intimidation tactics.

Average resident of Baghdad

  • You survived a massive and brutal attack on the city of Baghdad.
  • They city and most of its inhabitants were destroyed by the brutal Mongol attack.
  • You lost everything.
  • Your testimony should be full of the bloody details of Mongol attacks.
  • Learn about the details of the siege of Baghdad.

Persian Historian, Ala-ad-Din Ata-Malik Juvaini

  • You are a highly skilled government official from Persia.
  • Your skills at governing were recognized by the Mongols.
  • You studied and wrote histories of the Mongols, highlighting the good side of their rule.
  • You were relocated within the Mongol empire and your skills at governing were put to good use.
  • In fact, you became the governor of Baghdad.

Italian resident of Genoa with the plague

  • As a resident of Genoa, Italy, you did not have direct contact with the Mongols.
  • Your city is a port city that is based largely on trade.
  • You contracted the plague through contact with merchants in your city.
  • You should make-up an average life for yourself in Italy, such as an occupation, family, etc.
  • Your testimony should include gory details of what it is like to have the plague.

Lamaist Buddhist Leader of Tibet

  • You are the leader of Tibet and a follower of a unique brand of Buddhism.
  • Your particular type of Buddhism gave special status to the Mongols.
  • Research what Lamaist Buddhism is and why the Mongols had special status in your belief system.
  • You should know some detail about how the Mongols were treated in Tibet.

Chinese Farmer

  • You are one of many peasant farmers in China, that make up over 80% of the Chinese population.
  • You live in the North and your family has faced the threat of Mongol invasion for generations.
  • The new Mongol dynasty ruling China, the Yuan Dynasty, has changed life for Confucian peasants like yourself.
  • Your testimony should reveal the details of life under the Yuan Dynasty.

Ming Emperor Hongwu

  • You are the new Chinese Emperor that has just thrown the Mongols out of China.
  • Your dynasty has restored traditional Chinese values after the period of foreign rule of China by the Mongols.
  • Your testimony should reveal the details of life in the Yuan dynasty and the changes you have made since coming to power.

Marco Polo

  • You are an Italian merchant that traveled to China and lived under Yuan rule.
  • You received very favorable treatment by Kubilai Khan and the Mongols.
  • You held high positions in the Yuan government and can speak on many topics regarding the Mongols.
  • You witnessed Mongol rule of China, their impact on the trade routes, and their military tactics.

Khwarazm Shah

  • You were the ruler of the Khwarazm region of what is now Iran.
  • The Mongols invaded your realm and you survived the attack.
  • Your testimony should include the details of Mongol military tactics, because the Mongols caused massive death and destruction in your land.

Christian Silk Road Trader

  • You have been a merchant on the Silk Road for years and have experienced all kinds of things.
  • You can attest to the dangers of trading on the Silk Road.
  • You should investigate the types of merchants and goods that were traded on the Silk Road.
  • You should also know the impact of the Mongols on Silk Road trade.

Confucian Scholar

  • As a Confucian scholar, you performed valuable services for the Song Dynasty.
  • You have been trained in the long tradition of Confucian education, but under the Yuan Dynasty your special position in the Chinese court changed.
  • Your testimony should reveal all of the changes that the Yuan Dynasty brought to China, especially the details of how the Mongols treated Confucian scholars.

Guillaume Boucher, Parisian Goldsmith (see textbook)

  • You are a goldsmith originally from Paris that was living in Budapest, Hungary.
  • You were taken by the Mongols and relocated in the empire due to your special skill as a goldsmith.
  • Your testimony should reveal both the loss of being taken from your home and the gain of the positive treatment that Mongols showed you as a specialist in your field.
  • Your research should include the experiences of all specialists in the Mongol Empire.

Chabi

  • You are the wife of Kublai Khan
  • You would have special insight into the lives of women in Mongol society.
  • You would be eager to reveal the roles of women, especially those that are more free and independent than those found in other societies at the time.
  • Having lived in China, you can compare the lifestyles of Mongol women to those of Confucian Chinese women.
  • You should be aware of Mongol policies in China, such as taxation and the rules imposed on Chinese people and Confucian scholars.
  • You should also speak to your advising Kublai NOT to slaughter the Chinese people.