2 history works
47290v3o0
hist_162__2.pptxWestern Conquest of Mongol Empire, 1217-1258
Name: Xueming Zhou
Student ID: 13830260
Class: HIST-162-001
Professor: Lloyd Ackert
August 25, 2016
Introduction:
In 1206, Genghis Khan unified the Mongolian grassland which had been split for a long time.
Genghis Khan established the Mongol Empire and the Mongolian army started the expansion.
From 1217-1258 nearly half a century, the Mongol Empire had conquered many countries in Asia and Europe.
The Bloodiness of the Western Conquest:
Stubbs, Kim wrote that “Juvaini reported that every Mongol soldier "was allotted the execution of three or four hundred persons" and added, "So many had been killed by nightfall that the mountains became hillocks and the plain was soaked with the blood of the mighty." A contemporary tally, conducted over a period of 13 days, arrived at a staggering figure of 1.3 million dead.” (Stubbs, Kim Page 36)
The Mongolian army expedition to the cities and regions are suffered from destruction and economic regression. The occupied cities’ productivity and cultures experienced a serious devastation by the Mongol Empire.
The positive Influence of the Western Conquest:
Western Conquest promoted the Interaction between the East and West
Western Conquest Laid a Strong Foundation for the Renaissance
Western Conquest promoted the Interaction between the East and West
During the conquests, the Mongol Empire focused on developing the commercial trade. Biran, Michal wrote that “As for the economic exchange, similar to the cultural sphere, the Mongols cultivated economic ties that extended well beyond the empire‘s borders. They inherited, invigorated and extended numerous trade routes as well as sundry means for resource extraction and exchange, including plunder, asset redistribution, taxation or tribute, and gift giving. Not only did the Mongols provide security and transportation infrastructure, but they were active participants in the trade as both investors and consumers.” (Biran, Michal Page 1024) It identified that during the conquests, the Mongol Empire also focused on developing the commercial trade, which reduced the empire’s level of isolation.
The Empire of Mongolia built many road stations in the important traffic lines which were across the country from east to west. It made the circulation of commodities more convenient and safe.
At the same time, the Mongolian Empire also sent envoys to Europe to do business and diplomacy activities. The Secret History of the Mongols described that “The Mongols wished to know how much territory a people on horseback could conquer. The result was that they widened the road between the continents, so that, in the long run, the peoples of Asia and Europe could move about the world more freely.” (Urgunge Onon Page 16) It proved that the Western Conquest of Mongol Empire promoted the interaction between Asia and Europe.
Western Conquest Laid a Strong Foundation for the Renaissance:
The Mongol conquests had a certain destructive level, wherever the army reached the city was destroyed and the residents were looted inevitably, these actions were a blow to the feudal system which wrecked the economic basement and upper-level structure.
The brutal actions of the Mongolian would certainly arouse the local people's resistance, which laid a strong foundation for people to break the rule of the feudal church and to get rid of the shackles of feudal superstition in the later Renaissance.
The looting and killing of the Mongol empire caused strong panic among the ignorant and backward citizens in Europe, who were under the control of the church. Under the aggression and destruction of the feudal system and the European tradition by the Mongolia army, Europeans had to doubt the theological view of propaganda, which they had previously believed it firmly. They had to break through the control of theology and began to think for themselves independently. So the exploration of the human nature, freedom, and liberation began, the pursuit of the freedom, liberation and individuality movement came to be the bud of the latter Renaissance movement.
Conclusion:
The vast territory of the Mongol Empire made the Eurasian continental linked together closely and expanded the cultural exchange between the East and the West, which promoted the process of the Renaissance.
Mongolian expedition forces removed the restrictions among the European and Asian country. “Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia” showed that “Unlike European imperialists, the Mongols did not enforce their culture on their subjects. Instead, they created their empire a synthetic state culture, which combined the culture of their sedentary subjects, the foreign traditions the Mongols introduced, and Mongol indigenous cultural norms.” (Biran, Michal Page 446-447) It identified that during the conquest the Mongol Empire maximized the integrity of other culture. Which had promoted the cultural integration.
The conquest of Mongol Empire not only promoted the interaction between Asia and Europe but also accelerated the process of cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Therefore, we can conclude that the western conquest of Mongol Empire has a strong connection to the theme of Empire Building and reduce the level of isolation.
Work Cited
Primary Sources:
Urgunge Onon, The Secret History of the Mongols, 2001 Page 16
Secondary Sources
Biran, Michal, “Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia” Journal of the American Oriental Society, Volume 123, Issue 2, Apr-Jun 2003, Page 446-447
Biran, Michal, “The Mongol Empire in World History: The State of the Field[This surve]” History Compass, Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2013, Page 1021-1033
Stubbs, Kim “FACING THE Wrath of Khan” Military History, Volume 23, Issue 3, May 2006, Page 30-37
