Mukhali

Of all the nomadic peoples who rose to power between 300 and 1400, the Mongols were the most successful.  The Turks ultimately built a more lasting state—the Ottoman Empire (see McKay, Chapter 16)—but that state was dwarfed by the empire conquered by Chinggis Khan and his descendents.  Even after the empire spilt into smaller realms, after Chinggis' death, these states continued to exert significant influence, encouraging productive cultural interchange from East Asia to eastern Europe.  (For one example of such interchange, review the second part of Internet Activity 4 for McKay, Chapter 11.)

The Mongols were not a literate people—at least not initially—but they recognized the value of literacy.  From the peoples they conquered they plucked individuals with such skills to administer their empire.  In addition to keeping records, these literate persons also wrote accounts of their rulers.  The most famous of these was The Secret History of the Mongols, which tells of the rise of Chinggis Khan and illuminates many colorful personalities among the Mongol hierarchy.  One of these was Mukhali, whose career demonstrates both the dangers of life and possibilities for advancement during the age of Chinggis Khan.  Use the links below the learn more about Mukhali's world and the legacy of the Mongols.

1. First, take a moment to refresh your memory of the geography of the Mongol world.  Examine this map of the Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan.
2. At its height, the Mongol war machine was the most powerful in the world.  Learn more about Mongol military might and the weapons and armor that made the Mongol warrior so devastatingly effective.
3. Mukhali was not the only notable member of the Mongol command.  Another was Subedei, the general who led the Mongol invasion of eastern Europe.  Read more about Subedei the Warrior.  How do his background and career resemble and differ from those of Mukhali?
4. Although subordinate to men in many ways, women took an active part in Mongol social and political life.  Go to Women of the Mongol Court and read about some of the prominent women who contributed to the Mongols' rise to power.
5. As you know, after the death of Chinggis Khan the Mongol empire split into four smaller but formidable states.  Read about the westernmost of these, the Khanate of the Golden Horde.  The Mongols of this state, who came to be known as Tartars, continued to play a role in the history of eastern Europe, particularly of Russia.  Read about The Mongols and the Emergence of Moscow as an important power on the eastern frontier of Europe.
6. One of the heirs of the Mongol war machine was Timur the Lame, better known as Tamerlane.  His background is a bit shadowy.  Chapter 11 of McKay identifies him as a Turkish nobleman, but other sources say that he was a Mongol or a Turko-Mongol.  Whatever his ethnicity, he employed the strategies and tactics perfected by Chinggis Khan and his generals to conquer a vast territory.  Learn more about Tamerlane .  Tamerlane was known as an enthusiastic player of chess who developed his own version of the game.  Go to Tamerlane chess to see what changes he made.