During the Post-Classical Era, nomadic tribes banded together to create one of the largest land empires know to man. These nomads, or the Mongols, were able to conquer this land under the command of Genghis Khan, and eventually divided up the large empire into different sections called Khanates. Under these Khanates, China was a part of the Great Khanate, and was supervised by Kublai Khan. I argue that Mongol rule in the Yuan dynasty rejuvenated trading across the continent, Brought religious tolerance into Chinese society, and revamped Chinese politics and the role of women in China. First, Mongol rule rekindled trading activity in China. During the Tang dynasty, trade was highly prosperous, with the Silk Roads being the mediator between regions all over Eurasia. The Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Dynasty both supported trade, which established a continuous stretch of land that promoted trade. However, during the Song dynasty, trade plateaued, and was not as lucrative for merchants. The routes were plagued with robbers and there were not as many buyers wanted to trade. But once the Mongols were able to establish dominance over most of Asia, trade prospered once more. They were able to single handedly …show more content…
In the Tang and Song dynasties, religion was mostly restricted to Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Specifically in the Tang Dynasty, the main religion practiced by people was Daoism, followed by the newly emerging Buddhism. During the Song dynasty, society became more nationalistic, and Neo-Confucianism also started to take root. But once the Yuan Dynasty gained power, it was much more open to foreign religious influences. The Yuan dynasty chose to govern their territories with the help of other people, and they did this by moving people around, for example from the Middle East to China. Because of this, Islam and Christianity began to take a much bigger hold in China than ever
As much as the Mongols affected the worlds they conquered, those worlds also influenced China's social landscape. For example, the Mongols brought influences from the Persian, Islamic and Byzantine parts of the world (p 372). This influenced the way the chinese practiced medicine, architecture, science and many other aspects (p 372). The impact this had on a global level was that it created a system of contact between these different areas of the world that previously did not communicate as well prior. Increases in communication allowed for advancements in trade, commerce and technology. Connections with parts of Europe and Africa allowed for the exchange of ideas and practices that changed the cultural landscapes in all these areas due to the Mongolian
Instability between religious groups was also a common issue and yet another effect of the spread of Buddhism in China, and led to the consistent repression or defense of one’s religion (Doc’s 2, 3). Though Buddhism left a large effect and influence on multiple characteristics of society, it’s most noticeable in social and political classes
Some people would say the Mongols were a key development to civilization. However, the progress they made is nothing compared to their cruelty and the process they used to conquer the majority of Asia and parts of the Middle East. The Mongols were originally a small, nomadic tribe that originated from the steppes of Central Asia. The tribe placed little value on objects, considering they moved around in yurts and hardly settled. Led by Genghis Khan, they conquered land worth double the size of the Roman Empire. The Mongols were greedy, bloodthirsty barbarians who had little to no regard for human life. They went to unthinkable lengths to conquer land while destroying countless ancient cities.
During the Han Dynasty, Buddha’s teachings were introduced to China by Central-Asian traders and received little support from the Han dynasty rulers. However, after the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the country was fragmented. While northern China was dominated by invaders from the borderland and steppes, southern China was ruled by continuous “Chinese” dynasties. As a result, Buddhism appealed to people who felt baffled by the loss of an anticipated and durable society. Subsequently, in 581 CE, Sui emperor Wendi reunified China with this new religion and gained state support, therefore further spreading Buddhism. It was not until the Tang Dynasty did the Chinese rulers realize the threat Buddhism had posed on them. Consequently, during the
China has been the home to various religions. At different times different dynasties endorsed certain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have always been alive in Chinese society from 600 to 1450.
Towards the end of the post classical period, during the early twelfth century new empires rose to power. Specifically, the Mongol Empire located in the steppes of Central Asia. The Mongol Empire was started by Genghis Khan who was part of a nomadic clan. Khan used his position as leader of the clan to unite all the clans in the area to create a very powerful army, which he then used to expand further and conquer empires such as China, Russia, the Middle East, and and the city of Baghdad creating the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire controlled the most land of any empire. As the Mongol Empire conquered new Empires they effected them through the environment, social classes, politically economically, and their culture. Two empires that the Mongol Empire had an effect drastically on was China and Russia politically and economically. The Mongol Empire improved China and Russia economically by facilitating trade routes stabilizing China economy and helped Russia semi-stable their economy. Politically the Mongol Empire enforced a system which united the people in China and helped Russia develop a political system indirectly.
During the 1300’s each empire during this time had a religion that was significant to their state and impacted them, this includes the Ottomans and the Ming. During the time period of the Ming dynasty, they based their states’ religion of Neo-Confucianism or “new-Confucianism”. Neo-Confucianism incorporates aspects of Buddhism and Taoism into tradition Confucian beliefs. Their religion had a significant impact on their State. After the Mongols conquered and ruled China, as a result China disunited. One of the main reasons the Ming Dynasty lasted long as an empire, was for the reason the restored and recenter China after the destruction of the Mongols. And their religion benefited them, for it helped unite china. Having one common religion upon an empire, would eventually cause the areas within the empire to unite. In addition the religion of the Ottoman Empire had a similar impact on its society. The ottomans were a Muslim based empire, but unlike other empires they didn’t force people within their empire to convert
1. The Mongols really did reinvigorate cross-Eurasian trade. The Silk Road trading routes that had existed for about 1000 years by the time the Mongols made the scene had fallen into disuse, but the Mongols valued trade because they could tax it, and they did a great job of keeping their empire safe.
The Mongol empire is undeniably one of the largest empires in history. The immense conquer of civilizations would not occur without their great rulers. Founder Genghis Khan started the successful conquers ending with his grandson Kublai Khan. The large size of the empire ultimately led to its fall, but the rule abetted the conquered people.
With the invasion of the Mongols, they interrupted many great post classical civilizations but at the same time, they also renewed and extended the global network. The Mongols were the mightiest war machine around during the time period of 600-1450 C.E. and they greatly affected China and Russia both politically and economically. Politically, religions were tolerated and there was centralized power in both regions. However, the Mongols allowed Russia to govern themselves with the help of Russian princes whereas China was under direct Mongol rule. Russia and China remained similar economically because both populations were taxed by the Mongols and safe travel on the Silk Road encouraged international trade. On the other hand, due to
The mongol’s sack of Baghdad in 1258 was a turning point in history due to the loss of
The region of China is extensive and profound. “In China lay people did not belong to an institutionalized sect, nor did their religious life have anything to do with signing articles of faint. Religion in China was so woven into the broad fabric of family and social life that there was not even a special word for it until modern times, when one was coined to match the Western term” (Thompson, 1). In China, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all blended. In the earliest period, Shang Dynasty (2000 BC), people in China had worshipped a lot of different gods (polytheism) such as weather god, river god. People in the Shang Dynasty believed that their ancestors become like gods after they died, so people worshipped their
The Mongol Empire existed during the 13th and 14th centuries and was the largest contiguous land empire in history. Starting out in the steppes of Central Asia, the Mongol Empire eventually grew from Central Europe to the Sea of Japan, extending northwards into Siberia, eastwards and southwards into the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, and the Iranian plateau, and westwards as far as the Levant and Arabia. Genghis Khan, who was the ruler of all Mongols in 1206. The empire grew rapidly under his rule and then under his descendants, who sent invasions in every direction. The vast transcontinental empire connected the east with the west with an enforced Pax Mongolica, or Mongol Peace, allowing trade, technologies, commodities, and ideologies to
Mongols Every society in every age longs for order, beauty, and truth. The Mongols were looking for order every empire had a unique influence on the world, the Mongols Empire is no exception. This time period is best remembered for their accomplishments, the major leaders/players they had during that time period they were also remembered for their lasting legacy of the empire especially with the Silk Road.
The start of the Mongol Empire began as a system of nomadic pastoralists who were extremely well experienced horsemen and traveled with their flocks of sheep, goats, cattle, and horses over the vast steppes of the prairielands of Central Asia. At the start of the Mongols rise to supremacy was the formation of tribal coalition known as “All the Mongols” (Saunders 1971) While the early tribal coalition was successful at establishing itself as a power in Manchuria and North China, it wasn’t until the rise of a well-known figure did the Mongols ascend to a force to fear and respect. That