Course Content
Lesson Plans
World Civilizations: The Global Experience ©2001
by Stearns, Adas, Schwartz, and Gilbert
Focus Lesson 9
Chapter 20: "The Last Great Nomadic Challenges: From Chinggis Khan to Timur"
AP* Course Description
- Demographic and environmental changes
- Impact of the nomadic migrations on Afro-Eurasia (Mongols)
Key Components
- Instructor's Manual:
Chapter 20, pp. 145–151 - Study Guide, Vol. I:
Chapter 20, pp. 197–206 - Test Bank:
Chapter 20, pp. 257–270
Key Web Sites Listed in the Student Text
Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites.
- Chapter 20: p. 497
Key Words and Terms
- khanates
- Karakorum
- Hulegu
- White Lotus Society
- tumens
- Batu
- Kublai Khan
- kuriltai
- Golden Horde
- Chabi
- khagan
- Ilkhan khanate
- Baibars
- Chinggis Khan
- Ogedei
- Mamluks
- Ju Yuanzhang
- Muhammad II Shah
- Berke
- Timur-i Lang
Suggested Pacing
Allow one week to teach Chapter 20.
Test Strategy
In addition to a strong thesis statement, the introductory paragraph should contain a brief explanation of any key theme or complex idea contained in the thesis as well as a quick listing of the organizational points that the student will use to structure and present the data to defend his or her thesis. The list is usually based on one of the following: key personalities, key events or legislation, main ideas, overall categories of evidence (political, socioeconomic, foreign policy, and so on), or noted contradictions or comparisons.
Key Concepts
The last nomadic empire in Eurasia
The Mongol Empire, the final attempt by Asian nomadic peoples to control major land area, lasted for almost 150 years and stretched ultimately from China to eastern Europe. The Mongols established peace, maintained a tolerant government over its territories, and fostered a Eurasian-wide system of trade and cultural exchange. The Mongol Empire began to collapse after rebellions in China. In the 1360s, Timur-i Lang attempted to reestablish the Mongol Empire, but instead his forces laid waste to large areas of the Middle East, India, and southern Russia. One unforeseen result of the Mongol Empire was the rise to power of Moscow in Russia.
Summing Up Student Understanding
To build on students' previous work with essay writing, write the following essay prompt on the board.
In what sense can the Mongol conquests be said to have brought an end to the postclassical civilizations in eastern Europe, western Europe, and the Middle East?
Have students spend three minutes brainstorming words, ideas, and facts that would help them answer the question. Then have them write a thesis statement that they could support using their list. As a new step, introduce the idea of making an outline of the information before they write their thesis statement. They will not have time to recopy their lists in outline form, so they will have to improvise. They can use numerals to number the ideas in the order in which they think the information will make the most sense and best support their thesis.
If time permits, provide this second writing prompt for additional practice.
In what sense was the Mongol era simply an extension of the incursions of previous nomadic peoples into sedentary civilizations and in what sense was it a civilization in its own right?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
You might also find these additional readings useful to develop students' background knowledge or for DBQ activities:
- Documents in World History, Vol. I, edited by Stearns, Gosch, and Grieshaber—Section Three