The Mongols: A Very Short Introduction

by Rossabi, Morris

• ISBN13: 9780199840892
• ISBN10: 019984089X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-05-04
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The Mongols carved out the largest land-based empire in world history, stretching from Korea to Russia in the north and from China to Syria in the south in the thirteenth century. Along with their leader Chinggis Khan they conjure up images of plunder and total destruction. Chinggis and his descendants introduced a level of violence that had perhaps never been seen in world history. Although this book does not ignore the devastation and killings wrought by the Mongols, it also reveals their contributions. Within two generations, they developed from conquerors and predators seeking booty to rulers who devised policies to foster the economies of the lands they had subjugated. Adopting political and economic institutions familiar to the conquered populations and recruiting native officials, they won over many of their non-Mongol subjects. Mongol nobles were ardent patrons of art and culture. They supported and influenced the production of Chinese porcelains and textiles, Iranian tiles and illustrated manuscripts, and Russian metalwork. Their most significant contribution was to foster the greatest contacts among diverse civilizations in world history. The Mongol peace they imposed on much of Asia and their promotion of trade resulted in considerable travel and relations among numerous merchants, scientists, artists, missionaries, and entertainers of different ethnic groups. It is no accident that Europeans, including Marco Polo, first reached China in this period. Eurasian and perhaps global history starts with the Mongol empire. Rossabi follows the Mongol empire through to collapse due to internal disunity. Struggles for succession and ill-planned and expensive military campaigns ultimately tore apart one of the most influential empires in world history.

Author Biography

Morris Rossabi is Distinguished Professor of History at the City University of New York and Adjunct Professor of Chinese and Inner Asian History at Columbia University.

Table of Contents

Life on the Steppes

Chinggis Khan Emerges

Conquest and Governance

The Mongols and the World

The Mongols and the World

The Mongols and Arts and Crafts

Decline, Fall, and Legacy

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.