392 History
FIND OUT MORE. Buddhism 289
GENGHIS KHAN
r. 1206–1227
Genghis Khan began his
career as Temujin, the
brilliant, ambitious chieftain
of one Mongol tribe. He was
chosen as supreme ruler, and
given the title Genghis Khan,
by a gathering of all the
Mongol tribes. After his death,
in 1227, his empire was
divided among his sons.Mongols
The Mongols were nomadic tribes from the steppes, or grasslands, of central
Asia. In 1206 CE they proclaimed Genghis Khan as their supreme ruler. He
led their conquest of an empire that, by 1279, included all of China and
nearly all of Russia, as well as central Asia, Iran, and Iraq.
WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT MONGOL ARMIES?
Mongol military might was based on the speed and
ferocity of mounted archers. From galloping horses,
Mongol archers let loose arrows that could pierce
armour. The riders and the horses were tough, capable
of covering more than 160 km (100 miles) a day.4 TIMUR IN INDIA
In 1398, another Mongol warlord called Timur, or
Tamerlane, invaded India and sacked Delhi.FIND OUT MORE. Imperial China 393 • Mughal India 407
Samurai
Samurai were warriors from Japanese noble families, who served in
private armies recruited by daimyo (local lords). Starting in 1180 with
the Gempei Wars, they fought in civil wars that raged throughout Japan.
In 1603, the Tokugawa. SHOGUNS restored peace. Samurai then
became officials and administrators.
WHAT WAS THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR?
Samurai swore a solemn oath of loyalty to their
comrades and their lord. They aimed to follow a code,
called the bushido (the way of the warrior). This called
for self-discipline, skill, bravery, honour, obedience,
and self-sacrifice. Many samurai also followed the
teachings of Zen Buddhism.NOBLE WARRIOR 3
Samurai were expert
horsemen and skilled with
the sword, bow, and spear.
They were paid not in
money but rice.
SHOGUNSFrom 1192 to 1867, Japan was ruled by a
series of powerful army commanders with
the title of shogun. Japan’s emperors had
great prestige but little real power.WHO WAS THE FIRST SHOGUN?
In 1192, the warlord Yoritomo, who was the head of
the mighty Minamoto clan, defeated rival nobles to
become the most powerful man in Japan. The
emperor gave him the title of shogun, which means
“great general”. Yoritomo set up a new, military
government, far away from the imperial court.1 PORTRAIT OF YORITOMO
Minamoto Yoritomo claimed to
be descended from the Japanese
imperial family. When he died,
in 1199, he passed the title of
shogun on to his sons, who ruled
until 1219.WHO WANTED TO RULE THE WORLD?
Genghis Khan wanted to live up to his title, which
means “universal ruler”. He aimed to conquer the
world and was proud of the fact that, eventually,
it took almost a year to ride from one end
of his realm to the other. Mongolssamurai