ASIA 100 Lecture 15: Mongols and Goryeo Korea
Document Summary
Asia 100 - introduction to traditional asia - lecture 15: mongols and goryeo korea. One of the most important events in human history - mongols. Many steppe peoples: xiongnu, xianbei, kushans, tanguts, khitans, jurchens, turks, tatars, kereyids, etc. Social pattern on the steppe: patrilineal families -> clans -> tribes. Mongols in mid-12th c. just one of many tribes. Temujin is what other people didn"t have but mongols had. Community abandoned his mother and three boys. Temujin captured by an enemy, escaped through strength and cunning. Found refuge with an old ally of his father. Asia at the end of 13th c. -> mongol divided into khans. Few belongings: a yurt, basic furniture, portable tools for rustic living, a wagon. Under chinggis, mongols grew rich from plunder. Mongols learned from khitan and jurchen experience with exploiting chinese agriculturalists. Envoys demanded tribute (and surrender), threatened destruction. Ebrey cites their tactics, weapons, and organization. Quick surrender was rewarded; defiance was ruthlessly punished.
