U1 L6: Marco Polo & Silk Roads 7.06

Place these events in chronological order, oldest on the left.

• Kublai Khan dies

• Song Dynasty is defeated

• Mongol Empire is established

• Yuan Dynasty is established

• Genghis Khan unites Mongols

What contributed the most to the prosperity of the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty?

• Japan was conquered, giving access to their resources

• They only traded with people in China to prevent losses

• A major gold discovery in the Yangtze River Valley

• An extensive trade network using the Silk Road

Choose the three statements that represent a TRUE statement about the Mongols.

• The Mongols failed in their attempt to invade Japan

• The Mongols were from the Great Steppe region

• The Mongols were able to conquer Rome

• The Mongols used cavalry in their military

• Genghis Khan became ruler after killing Kublai Khan

Match the term with its description

• Kublai Khan

• dynasty formed by the Mongols, ruled China from 1271-1368

• Ming Dynasty

• "Universal Ruler" of the Mongol Empire in 1206, oversaw the formation of the largest land-based empire

• Genghis Khan

• the Chinese dynasty that ended Mongol rule

• Pax Mongolica

• this is the name given to the era of peace ushered in by the Mongol conquest of Eurasia

• Yuan Dynasty

• fifth leader of the Mongol Empire, 1260-1294; founded the Yuan Dynasty in China

"This region (Armenia) contains many cities and castles, and abundance of all things, with beasts and birds for hunting and hawking; but I must tell you the air is not very healthy. The gentry used formerly to be valiant and good at arms; but now they are mean and vile, and remarkable for being only hard drinkers. On the seacoast is a city named Laias, which carries a very great trade;... all the spices, rich cloths, and other precious articles are brought from India across the Euphrates which the merchants of Venice, of Pisa, and of Genoa, come to purchase"

• -Marco Polo The Travels of Marco Polo, 1299

• After reading this passage it is clear that...

• people prefer to live simple isolated lives rather than live in urban areas

• commercial interests helped to connect people of different ethnicities

• Marco Polo believes that Armenians are not as civilized or advanced as Europeans

• for centuries Italy planned an invasion of the Middle East

A traveler and adventurer from Venice, this man's travels to China during the Mongol rule sparked great interest among Europeans, prompting many explorers to follow in his footsteps.

• Vasco da Gama

• Marco Polo

• Leonardo da Vinci

• Leon Alberti

[M]ore precious and costly wares are imported into Khan-balik [Beijing] than into any other city in the world... All the treasures that come from India-precious stones, pearls, and other rarities are brought here.

• -Marco Polo The Travels of Marco Polo

Given Marco Polo's interests in the quote above, what was his MOST LIKELY occupation?

• a sailor

• an architect

• a religious missionary

• a merchant

In addition to expanding trade and communication, what were some negative effects of the Mongolian Empire's impact on the Silk Roads? (2)

• destruction of cities

• introduction of paper money

• spread of disease, like Bubonic Plague

• increased cultural exchange

• a decline in trade due to the Silk Roads being unsafe to travel

Which actions did the Mongolian empires take to facilitate trade along the Silk Roads? (2)

• conquering regions along the Silk Roads

• writing about their travels

• inventing gunpowder

• establishing the courier system

• creating paper money

What was one legacy of the Silk Roads and the Mongolian Empire that is still felt today?

• the concept of isolationism

• decrease in violence

• facilitation of the exchange of goods, ideas and cultures

• the creation of the Yam courier system, which is still used