Vikings and Mongols: Trade and Exploration

<p>Mid-14th century (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The resurgence of trade and exchange of ideas across the known world. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gunpowder, compass, paper print, and paper money. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The immense mortality, disease, and suffering caused by conflict and disease. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>20-40% of the world population, spreading from China through trade routes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Their light and shallow longships. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The strengthening and spread of feudalism. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Utilizing advanced siege warfare techniques learned from conquered peoples. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Surrendering cities were given lenient terms, while resisting cities faced devastation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Encirclement and feigned retreats. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Developing trade networks and trade cities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The entire unit would be punished with execution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Western Europe (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Beginning in 795 CE, the Norse Vikings embarked on a three-century period of raiding and establishing settlements along European and Mediterranean coastlines. Known for their swift and maneuverable longships, they could navigate both open seas and inland waterways, allowing them to strike deep into enemy territory, often targeting religious institutions like monasteries.

The Vikings' raids significantly influenced the development of the feudal system across Europe. As a response to these attacks, local lords and nobles organized their own armies to provide protection for their land and people, leading to the rise of feudalism as a means of defense against these raiders.

The Viking Age witnessed the exploration and settlement of new lands by Norse explorers. Around 1000 CE, they reached and temporarily settled Vinland, a region in North America. They also established permanent settlements in Iceland and Greenland.

The Mongol Empire arose from the unification of nomadic tribes in the Mongol homeland under Genghis Khan in 1206. His leadership and military prowess transformed the Mongols into a dominant force, allowing them to conquer vast territories.

The Mongol military, composed of experienced horsemen, employed tactics such as encirclement and feigned retreats to decimate their enemies. Their expertise in warfare, particularly siege warfare, proved instrumental in overcoming heavily fortified cities.

The Mongol Empire's expansion relied heavily on the incorporation of soldiers and siege experts from conquered nations. This tactic contributed to their success in overcoming various empires, including those in China, Korea, Persia, and Russia.

The Mongols implemented a policy of punishment for resistance that heavily influenced their expansion. While cities that surrendered peacefully received lenient treatment, those who resisted were mercilessly punished, often facing enslavement, suppression, or destruction.

The Mongol Empire's brutal tactics and swift expansion resulted in the establishment of one of the largest land empires in history, encompassing territories spanning from Eastern Europe to China, including Russia, Persia, and Central Asia.

The sprawling Mongolian Empire, led by figures like Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan, eventually became too vast to manage effectively.

After the death of Kublai Khan in 1294, the Mongol Empire fractured into smaller, independent states.

The Golden Horde, Chagatai Khanate, Ilkhanate, and Yuan Dynasty became the four major successor states of the Mongol Empire.

While the khans of the successor states held significant power, they engaged in frequent warfare amongst themselves, weakening Mongol control.

As Mongol power waned, local kingdoms and regions gradually reclaimed their autonomy.

The Mongol Empire, despite its short-lived territorial control, significantly boosted global trade and the exchange of ideas.

The Mongol conquest and expansion brought death, disease, and widespread suffering to many regions.

The Black Death, a devastating plague, spread across Eurasia via the Silk Road, likely due to the trade networks fostered by the Mongol Empire.