Nomadic Empire IMP
1. What does the term ‘barbarian’ mean? : people whom Chinese, Greeks and romans said as
outsiders, greedy, cruel incapable of speech or self-governing
2. Carrer of Genghis khan
Genghis Khan, born c.1162 near Onon River, was Temujin, son of Yesugei of Kiyat clan.
His father died early; his mother Oelun-eke raised him and siblings in hardship.
Temujin was enslaved; his wife Borte was kidnapped and he recovered her.
He made allies: blood-brother Jamuqa, and Tughril/Ong Khan.
In 1180s–1190s, he defeated Jamuqa, Tatars, Kereyits, and Ong Khan by 1203.
By 1206, after defeating Naiman and Jamuqa, he became steppe leader and was titled Genghis Khan.
He reorganized Mongols into a disciplined army for campaigns.
He conquered China: Hsi Hsia 1209, Great Wall 1213, Peking 1215, Chin until 1234.
1219–1221: Otrar, Bukhara, Samarqand, Balkh, Gurganj, Merv, Nishapur, Herat surrendered or
destroyed.
Mongols pursued Sultan Muhammad into Azerbaijan, defeated Russians, encircled Caspian, and
followed his son into Afghanistan and Sindh.
Genghis Khan died 1227 & his army excelled by cavalry, archery, campaigns &naphtha bombardment
3. Why was trade so significant to the Mongols?
• The Mongol region lacked natural resources and had a harsh climate.
• Farming was mostly impossible, so trade was necessary for survival.
• Mongols traded with neighbouring lands, benefiting all sides.
4. Erasing old tribal identities / How Genghis Khan worked to systematically erase the old tribal
identities of different groups who joined his confederacy ? Discuss.
• He used the old steppe decimal system: units of 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 soldiers
• Restricted and punished to move units without permission to break old clan ties.
• He stopped mixing clans and tribes within these units.
• These units served under his four sons and specially chosen captains called noyan.
• Loyal followers got special ranks as ‘blood brothers’ (Anda) or bondsmen (naukar), showing close
ties with Genghis Khan.
• Family met at quriltais to decide campaigns, plunder, land, and succession
• Loyal followers became “Anda” (blood brothers) or “naukar” (bondsmen), ranking by closeness to Khan
• Sons ruled separate areas (ulus) over borders but shared empire
5. Need to fragment Mongol tribes
• Mongols were brave steppe tribes
• fragmentation by Genghis khan helped mix clans socially and militarily.
• Mongols’ bravery was organized into military groups forming a strong empire.
6. Meaning of ‘Yam’
• ’‘Yam’ was a fast courier system connecting the vast empire.
• Post stations had fresh horses and riders at regular distances.
• Nomads paid a tax (qubcur) to support it
• It allowed the Great Khan to monitor the vast empire quickly.
7. How Genghis consolidated his position?
1. What does the term ‘barbarian’ mean? : people whom Chinese, Greeks and romans said as
outsiders, greedy, cruel incapable of speech or self-governing
2. Carrer of Genghis khan
Genghis Khan, born c.1162 near Onon River, was Temujin, son of Yesugei of Kiyat clan.
His father died early; his mother Oelun-eke raised him and siblings in hardship.
Temujin was enslaved; his wife Borte was kidnapped and he recovered her.
He made allies: blood-brother Jamuqa, and Tughril/Ong Khan.
In 1180s–1190s, he defeated Jamuqa, Tatars, Kereyits, and Ong Khan by 1203.
By 1206, after defeating Naiman and Jamuqa, he became steppe leader and was titled Genghis Khan.
He reorganized Mongols into a disciplined army for campaigns.
He conquered China: Hsi Hsia 1209, Great Wall 1213, Peking 1215, Chin until 1234.
1219–1221: Otrar, Bukhara, Samarqand, Balkh, Gurganj, Merv, Nishapur, Herat surrendered or
destroyed.
Mongols pursued Sultan Muhammad into Azerbaijan, defeated Russians, encircled Caspian, and
followed his son into Afghanistan and Sindh.
Genghis Khan died 1227 & his army excelled by cavalry, archery, campaigns &naphtha bombardment
3. Why was trade so significant to the Mongols?
• The Mongol region lacked natural resources and had a harsh climate.
• Farming was mostly impossible, so trade was necessary for survival.
• Mongols traded with neighbouring lands, benefiting all sides.
4. Erasing old tribal identities / How Genghis Khan worked to systematically erase the old tribal
identities of different groups who joined his confederacy ? Discuss.
• He used the old steppe decimal system: units of 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 soldiers
• Restricted and punished to move units without permission to break old clan ties.
• He stopped mixing clans and tribes within these units.
• These units served under his four sons and specially chosen captains called noyan.
• Loyal followers got special ranks as ‘blood brothers’ (Anda) or bondsmen (naukar), showing close
ties with Genghis Khan.
• Family met at quriltais to decide campaigns, plunder, land, and succession
• Loyal followers became “Anda” (blood brothers) or “naukar” (bondsmen), ranking by closeness to Khan
• Sons ruled separate areas (ulus) over borders but shared empire
5. Need to fragment Mongol tribes
• Mongols were brave steppe tribes
• fragmentation by Genghis khan helped mix clans socially and militarily.
• Mongols’ bravery was organized into military groups forming a strong empire.
6. Meaning of ‘Yam’
• ’‘Yam’ was a fast courier system connecting the vast empire.
• Post stations had fresh horses and riders at regular distances.
• Nomads paid a tax (qubcur) to support it
• It allowed the Great Khan to monitor the vast empire quickly.
7. How Genghis consolidated his position?
