Get summary, textual answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF to NBSE Class 11 (Arts) History (Themes in World History) Chapter 5: Nomadic Empires (Focus: The Mongols 13th-14th Century). However, the educational materials should only be used for reference and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Introduction
The chapter titled “Nomadic Empires” explores the seeming contradiction in the term itself, as nomads are typically seen as wandering groups with a loose social structure, while empires are associated with stability and territorial control. The chapter specifically focuses on the Mongols, who managed to create one of the largest empires in history despite their nomadic roots.
The Mongols were steppe dwellers with little literary output of their own, so most of what is known about them comes from external sources, which were often biased. Notably, Russian scholars in the 18th and 19th centuries conducted significant research on the Mongols, placing them within a Marxist framework of historical evolution.
The chapter outlines the early development of Mongolian culture, tracing it back to around 3,000 BC. Over time, Mongol society evolved from a loose collection of tribes to a unified state under Genghis Khan, who was born as Temujin. Despite early hardships, Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes through a mix of loyalty, cunning, and military strength, and in 1206, he was declared the supreme ruler, known as Genghis Khan.
Genghis Khan’s conquests were marked by a strategy of overwhelming his nomadic neighbors before targeting larger empires. His campaigns extended from China to the Middle East, and his military tactics, including psychological warfare, were highly effective despite his relatively small army. The Mongol Empire expanded rapidly, but it was also known for its brutality, with massive casualties in conquered cities.
Despite the violence, Genghis Khan was also seen as a wise leader who implemented laws, supported religious tolerance, and worked to maintain order within his vast empire. His successors continued to expand the empire, with notable figures like Kublai Khan consolidating power in China.
The Mongol Empire eventually declined due to internal strife, cultural assimilation, and the adoption of religions that diluted the Mongols’ identity. By the 14th century, the empire had fragmented, and the Mongols were absorbed into the cultures they had once conquered.
Video tutorial
Exercise/textual questions and answers
Very short answer type questions
1. Which Mongolian tribe defeated the Hun Empire in the 1st century?
Answer: Xianbis (Mongol origin).
2. Which Mongol tribe invaded the Steppe region of Russia and then returned to China?
Answer: Kidans (Mongol origin).
3. Which Mongol politician unified the Mongols?
Answer: Genghis Khan.
4. What were the regions which were included in the Mongolian empire at its peak?
Answer: The Mongol Empire extended from Korea to Hungary and included most of the lands between Afghanistan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Persia, China, and much of the Middle East.
5. When did Chengiz Khan become the head of the Mongolian Empire?
Answer: In 1206.
Short answer type questions
1. Write the names of the main areas of Central Asian Steppe area.
Answer: Altai mountains, Gobi Desert, Steppes of Central Asia
2. Describe the four characteristics of tribal society.
Answer: The four characteristics of tribal society are:
- The society was divided into patrilineal lineages.
- The rich families were larger and possessed more animals and pasture lands.
- They were influential in local politics.
- Conflicts among families occurred over pasture lands and predatory raids in search of livestock.
3. Write a note on the warfare techniques of the Mongols.
Answer: The Mongols were skilled in using tactics such as feigned flight, ambushes, and tying branches to horse tails to stir up dust and create the illusion of large forces. Their primary weapon was the compound bow, and they also used steel helmets, light body armour, sabers, and lances with hooks.
4. Write some features of the earlier Mongolian tribes.
Answer: The Mongols were composed of diverse groups linked by language to the Tatars, Khitan, and Manchus to the east, and the Turks to the west. Some were cattle herders, while others were food gatherers and hunters. Their society was organised into patrilineal lineages with larger, richer families wielding significant local influence.
5. Write a note on Golden Horde Empire.
Answer: The Golden Horde was a Mongol Khanate established in the 13th century. It was a division of the Mongol Empire that ruled over parts of Eastern Europe, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and parts of the Caucasus. The Golden Horde maintained political dominance in the region for several centuries and played a significant role in the history of the region.
Long Answer Questions
1. Describe the circumstances favourable to Genghis Khan to establish a unified Mongol Empire.
Answer: The circumstances favourable to Genghis Khan’s establishment of a unified Mongol Empire included the political condition of Asia, which was highly advantageous. China was divided into three fragments, with the Chin dynasty ruling the north, the Sung the south, and the Tibetan-Tanguts controlling the north-west with their kingdom of Hsi-Hsia. Thus, there was no strong and unified China. In Eurasia, the balance of power was quite disturbed. To the west of China was the state of Kara Khital based on oasis cities such as Bukhara and Samarkand. Beyond that, on the Oxus river, was the Muslim kingdom of Khorezm and still further west the Abbasid caliphate of Baghdad, both of which had lost their glory.
2. Political foresight of Genghis Khan was more far-reaching than making a big federation of the Mongolian race in the Steppe province in middle Asia. How? Explain.
Answer: Genghis Khan’s political foresight was more far-reaching because his strategy involved overcoming his nomadic neighbours before invading the great empires. He was familiar with the traditional Chinese strategy of “Divide and Rule.” In this way, many nomad chieftains in the past had been destroyed by simultaneous attacks by imperial armies and rival tribesmen. The unification of the different Mongol tribes under Genghis Khan and the introduction of diverse people into his army complicated the composition of the army. It included groups like Turkic Uighars, defeated people despite their earlier hostility. Genghis Khan’s army was organised according to decimal units in divisions of 10s, 100s, 1,000s, and 10,000 soldiers. He divided the old tribal groupings and distributed their members into new military units. The new military contingents were required to serve under Genghis Khan’s four sons and especially chosen captains of his army called Noyan.
3. Mongols had their own developed tradition, however, why were they attracted to Bodh religion? What were its results?
Answer: The Mongols were attracted to Buddhism because the Mongol Khans sought something that would maintain a sense of homogeneity among the Mongol tribes. The Khans chose Buddhism to be the state religion. The choice of the Indo-Tibetan version was not incidental. Buddhism had successfully unified the Mongol tribes spiritually and assisted to a great degree the Mongol rulers in countering the threats to their security posed by the Christians, Russia, and China. The introduction of Buddhism to the Mongolian society had a positive impact at that time. Buddhism had become one of the most important criteria of Mongolian nomadic identity. The Buddhist monasteries turned into unique cultural centres of society. Monasteries kept quite big libraries. These libraries contained not only the Buddhist texts but also many books related to traditional science and history. A lot of traditions and customs of the Mongols were enriched by Buddhist meanings. By the 17th century, the Mongol-speaking Buddhist nomads were quite different from the Muslim nomads both by religion and language.
4. Describe the distinct characteristics of the Nomadic Mongolian Society.
Answer: The distinct characteristics of the Nomadic Mongolian Society are:
- The nomadic Mongolian society had a unique way of life, customs, and traditions distinct from those in China and Russia. The Mongols developed agricultural science suited to their nomadic lifestyle and bred cattle that thrived in extreme climates. This livestock provided milk, meat, and other products in equal proportions, though not as abundantly as in settled societies.
- The Mongols had social customs related to their nomadic life, such as felt making, hair cutting of babies, and singing to encourage cattle to accept rejected offspring. These customs started fading with the introduction of European cattle breeding science.
- They developed a portable dwelling called the “Ger,” which could be disassembled and reassembled quickly, allowing for easy relocation.
- The Mongols designed a calendar with holidays that matched their nomadic lifestyle, including Tsagaansar, the Mongolian New Year, and Hansh Day, marking the end of winter.
- Their script, borrowed from the Uighurs, was adapted to fit all Mongolian dialects, with the Uighur script surviving due to its developed structure.
- The Mongolians had a deep respect for books, using silk to wrap them and avoiding any disrespect. They wrote important works like Secret History of Mongols, Golden History, and Crystal Mirror.
- Buddhism gave the Mongols a distinct identity from neighboring nations and turned monasteries into cultural centers. A symbiotic relationship developed between the nomadic herdsmen and the monasteries, with the nomads providing financial support while the monasteries preserved tradition and intellectual life.
5. Describe the causes of downfall of the Mongol Empire.
Answer: The decline of the Mongol Empire was mainly due to their small numbers and primitive nature compared to their subjects. Pushkin noted that the Mongols were “Arabs without Aristotle and algebra,” meaning they lacked the cultural and intellectual cohesion that helped other empires thrive. Unlike the Arabs, the Mongols did not assimilate their subjects; instead, they adopted the languages, religions, and cultures of the more advanced peoples they conquered, which led to the loss of their own identity and ultimately the dissolution of their empire.
Additionally, internal dynastic rivalries and cultural assimilation further weakened the empire. Kublai Khan’s decision to move the capital to Peking and adopt Chinese customs contributed to the empire’s fragmentation. His authority became limited to China, and the ensuing civil wars, such as the one with his cousin Kaidu, further destabilized the empire.
Finally, the adoption of other religions by the Mongols, such as Islam by Hulagu’s successors in Persia and the influence of Orthodox Christianity in the Golden Horde, caused divisions. Over time, only the Mongols in ancestral Mongolia retained their cultural identity, but even they fell into obscurity under the influence of Buddhism.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mongol nomads were from:
A. Syria
B. Central Asian Steppe Area
C. China
D. Tajikistan
Answer: B. Central Asian Steppe Area
2. The current name of the full English steppe area is:
A. Syria
B. China
C. Mongolia
D. Tajikistan
Answer: C. Mongolia
3. Mongol’s social order was:
A. Maternal head
B. Paternal head
C. Religious head
D. Family head
Answer: B. Paternal head
4. Which of the following was situated in southern part of steppe area of Mongol?
A. Gobi desert
B. Icy hill
C. (a) and (b)
D. None of these
Answer: A. Gobi desert
5. By which name is assembly of Sardaar of Mongol tribe known?
A. Tuman
B. Ulus
C. Kiriltai
D. Tama
Answer: C. Kiriltai
Competency-based Questions
1. Consider the following statements.
(i) The origins of the rise of Mongols were such as grasslands or pasture area in Europe and Europe.
(ii) If Mongol wanted to give a lot of respect to a person, then he would call him a anda.
(iii) Meaning of Nomad is traveller, migrant Community.
Which statement(s) is/are correct in the above statement?
(a) Only statement (i) is correct
(b) Only statement (ii) is correct
(c) Only statement (iii) is correct
(d) All the above statements are correct
Answer: C. Only statement (iii) is correct
2. Match the following and select the correct option:
Column A
A. Temujin was born in
B. Genghis Khan died in
C. Yuan dynasty ended in
D. Manchu dynasty conquered Mongolia in
E. The last campaign of Genghis Khan in
Column B
(i) 1227
(ii) 1759
(iii) 1223
(iv) 1368
(v) 1162
Options: (a) A-(v), B-(i), C-(iv), D-(ii), E-(iii)
(b) A-(v), B-(ii), C-(iv), D-(i), E-(iii)
(c) A-(i), B-(iii), C-(v), D-(ii), E-(iv)
(d) A-(iii), B-(i), C-(iv), D-(ii), E-(v)
Answer: A. A-(v), B-(i), C-(iv), D-(ii), E-(iii)
3. Consider the following statements.
(i) Siberia is on the north of Eurasia.
(ii) Hun was the most important Nomadic Empire of the 13th and 14th century.
(iii) Quriltai was the council of various tribes that governed the state.
Which statement(s) is/are correct in the above statement?
(a) Only statement (i) and (ii) are correct are
(b) Only statement (ii) and (iii) are correct
(c) Only statement (i) and (iii) are correct
(d) All the above statements are correct
Answer: C. Only statement (i) and (iii) are correct
4. Which was/were the phases of the development of Mongol Tribe?
(i) The Tribe
(ii) Age of integrated Mongolia
(iii) Steppe region
(iv) Adoption of Buddhism
Which statement(s) is/are correct in the above statement?
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iv)
Answer: D. (i), (ii) and (iv)
5. Consider the following statements.
(i) One of the characteristic of a nomad is that they stay at one place.
(ii) Genghis Khan was born in Haiti.
(iii) Scholars and researchers in Russia began to research on Mongol’s lifestyle and Empire.
Which statement(s) is/are correct in the above statement?
(a) Only statement (i) is correct
(b) Only statement (ii) is correct
(c) Only statement (iii) is correct
(d) Only statement (ii) and (iii) are correct
Answer: C. Only statement (iii) is correct
Case-based Question
Juwaini, a late-thirteenth-century Persian chronicler of the Mongol rulers of Iran, carried an account of the capture of Bukhara in 1220. After the conquest of the city, Juwaini reported that Genghis Khan went to the festival ground where the rich residents of the city were and addressed them ‘O people know that you have committed great sins, and that the great ones among you have committed these sins. If you ask me what proof I have for these words, I say it is because I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you’ … Now one man had escaped from Bukhara after its capture and had come to Khurasan. He was questioned about the fate of the city and replied: ‘They came, they [mined the walls], they burnt, they slew, they plundered and they departed’.
1. Who was Juwaini?
Answer: Juwaini was a late-thirteenth-century Persian chronicler of the Mongol rulers of Iran.
2. When did Genghis Khan capture Bukhara?
Answer: Genghis Khan captured Bukhara in 1220.
3. At what place did Genghis Khan address the rich residents of Bukhara?
Answer: Genghis Khan addressed the rich residents of Bukhara at the festival ground.
4. What arguments did Genghis Khan give to justify the atrocities committed by him on the people of Bukhara?
Answer: Genghis Khan argued that the people of Bukhara had committed great sins, and that he was the punishment of God sent because of these sins. He implied that if they had not committed such sins, God would not have sent a punishment like him upon them.
Pictorial Questions
1. Identify the following picture and write their name.
A. The Great Wall of China
B. Mongol invasion (depiction of a Mongol battle scene)
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. Where does our knowledge of the Mongols mainly come from?
Answer: Our knowledge of the Mongols mainly comes from chronicles, travelogues, and documents produced by city-based literatures.
2. Who were the most valuable contributors to Mongol history research in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Answer: The most valuable contributors to Mongol history research in the 18th and 19th centuries were Russian scholars.
3. What was the main language used by the Mongols?
Answer: The main language used by the Mongols was Mongolian.
4. When did the Hunas establish their hegemony over the Great Steppes?
Answer: The Hunas established their hegemony over the Great Steppes in the 3rd century BC.
5. What script did the Mongols use?
Answer: The Mongols used the Orkhon Enisil Script, similar to Runic script.
6. What did the Mongols trade with their Chinese neighbours?
Answer: The Mongols traded horses, furs, and game with their Chinese neighbours.
7. What did the Chinese build to protect themselves from nomadic attacks?
Answer: The Chinese built fortifications, which were later integrated into the Great Wall of China.
8. Who unified the Mongol people?
Answer: Genghis Khan unified the Mongol people.
9. How extensive was the Mongol Empire at its height?
Answer: At its height, the Mongol Empire extended from Korea to Hungary and included most lands between, such as Afghanistan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Persia, China, and much of the Middle East.
10. Why are the terms “nomadic” and “empire” considered contradictory?
Answer: The terms “nomadic” and “empire” are considered contradictory because nomads are wanderers with unsystematic economic and political structures, while empires suggest stable, territorially-bound entities with complex social and administrative systems. The contradiction arises because these terms traditionally don’t apply to the historical facts of nomadic imperial formations.
76. Discuss the reasons behind the decline of the Mongol Empire.
Answer: The decline of the Mongol Empire was a complex process influenced by a combination of internal and external factors. Internally, the Mongols faced significant challenges due to their limited population and the primitive nature of their society compared to the advanced civilizations they had conquered. Unlike the Arabs, who had a unifying language and religion that their subjects could adopt, the Mongols lacked such cohesive elements. This absence of a strong cultural and religious identity made it difficult for them to assimilate their diverse subjects and maintain imperial unity.
Cultural assimilation played a crucial role in the empire’s decline. As the Mongols settled in different regions, they began to adopt the languages, religions, and customs of their more advanced subjects. For example, in Persia, the Mongol rulers embraced Islam, which led to their gradual integration into Iranian-Islamic culture. Similarly, the Golden Horde across the Caucasus mountains was influenced by Orthodox Christianity and Islam, further fragmenting the Mongol identity. In China, Kublai Khan’s decision to move the capital to Peking and adopt Chinese customs diluted the Mongol character, leading to a loss of the traditional nomadic way of life.
Internal dynastic rivalries also significantly contributed to the empire’s decline. After the death of Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire was divided among his descendants, leading to power struggles and civil wars. Kublai Khan’s contested election as Grand Khan, followed by a four-year struggle with his brother Arigh Boke and a prolonged conflict with his cousin Kaidu, weakened the empire from within. These dynastic conflicts fragmented the empire, making it difficult to maintain a unified and coherent rule.
Externally, the Mongols faced resistance and rebellion from the populations they had conquered. As the empire expanded, it became increasingly difficult to govern and control the vast territories. The Mongols’ harsh and often brutal methods of conquest and governance eventually provoked widespread resentment, leading to uprisings and rebellions. Additionally, the Mongols’ reliance on military power, without a strong administrative or political structure, made it difficult to sustain their empire in the long run.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. What period marks the beginning of the early period of nomadism in the Great Steppes?
A. 3rd millennium BC
B. 1st century AD
C. 4th century BC
D. 6th century AD
Answer: A. 3rd millennium BC
2. Which script, similar to the Runic script, did the Mongols develop during the early period of nomadism?
A. Cyrillic Script
B. Latin Script
C. Orkhon Enisil Script
D. Greek Script
Answer: C. Orkhon Enisil Script
3. In which century did the Xianbis, a tribe of Mongol origin, first establish their dominance?
A. 1st century AD
B. 4th century BC
C. 3rd century BC
D. 6th century AD
Answer: A. 1st century AD
4. Which empire, established by a Mongol tribe, had a special significance in the 10th century?
A. Hunas
B. Kidans
C. Xianbis
D. Turks
Answer: B. Kidans
5. The Secret History of the Mongols, an early narrative on Genghis Khan, has different versions in which two languages?
A. Latin and Italian
B. Chinese and Mongolian
C. Persian and Arabic
D. French and Russian
Answer: B. Chinese and Mongolian
6. Which scholar provided a sympathetic and positive assessment of Genghis Khan and faced censorship issues?
A. Boris Yakovlevich Vladimirtsov
B. Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold
C. Marco Polo
D. Khruschev
Answer: B. Vasily Vladimirovich Bartold
7. Which tribe of Mongol origin defeated the Hunas in the AD first century?
A. Xianbis
B. Kidans
C. Tatars
D. Uigurs
Answer: A. Xianbis
8. During which century did the Kirgis tribe establish dominance over the Great Steppe region?
A. 7th century
B. 5th century
C. 9th century
D. 11th century
Answer: C. 9th century
9. What was a significant contribution of the Kidans to Mongolian culture during their rule?
A. Development of a unique script
B. Sophisticated military science
C. Introduction of Buddhism
D. Formation of the Orkhon Enisil Script
Answer: B. Sophisticated military science
10. Which empire influenced the transition from a tribal to a feudal mode of production according to 20th-century Marxist historiography?
A. Roman Empire
B. Byzantine Empire
C. Mongol Empire
D. Ottoman Empire
Answer: C. Mongol Empire
58. Which of the following was a significant factor in the dissolution of the Mongol Empire?
A. Economic prosperity
B. Religious tolerance
C. Internal dynastic rivalries
D. Expansion of trade routes
Answer: C. Internal dynastic rivalries
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