Mahmud of Ghazni
definition: third ruler of Turkish slave dynasty in Afghanistan; led invasions of northern India; credited with sacking one of the wealthiest of Hindu temples in northern India; gave Muslims reputation for intolerance and aggression
significance: stopped
Chinggis Khan
definition: a mongol who united mongol and Turkish tribes, began campaign west, using fear as a tactic
significance: Brought unity to asia and Eurasia
Marco Polo
definition: Venetian traveler who explored Asia in the 13th century and served Kublai Khan (1254-1324)
significance: praised Kublai for his generosity
Khubilai Khan
definition: last of the Mongol Great Khans (r. 1260-1294) and founder of the Yuan Empire
significance: spread Buddhism through his empire
Tamerlane
definition: Mongolian ruler of Samarkand who led his nomadic hordes to conquer an area from Turkey to Mongolia (1336-1405)
significance: Brought control to the power vaccuum
Osman
definition: most successful warrior and "founder" of Ottomans
significance: established the ottoman empire
Turks
definition: a member of the Turkish-speaking ethnic group in Turkey, or, formerly, in the Ottoman Empire
significance: brought unity to the area of Asia and Eurasia and toppled many kingdoms
Yurts
definition: large, circle-shaped tents made of animal hides, also called gurs
significance: demonstrated nomadic ingenuity
Kumiss
definition: an alcoholic drink prepared from animal products by fermenting mare's milk into a potent concoction
significance: demonstrated nomadic ingenuity
Shamans
definition: medicine men or women who treat people with mental problems by driving out their demons with elaborate rituals, such as exorcisms, incantations, and prayers
significance: demonstrated nomadic culture
Khan
definition: a Mongol ruler
significance: brought unity to Asia
Saljuq Turks
definition: Turkish tribe that gained control over the Abbasid empire and fought with Byzantine
significance: sacked much of Byzantine's cities and agrarian sources
Sultan
definition: the ruler of a Muslim country (especially of the former Ottoman Empire)
significance: unified an area
Manzikert
definition: site where Saljuq forces inflicted a devastating defeat on the Byzantine army in 1071
significance: sacked Byzantine's agrarian sources
Karakorum
definition: capital of the Mongol empire under Chinggis Khan, 1162 - 1227
significance: brought political unity
Khanbaliq
definition: "city of the khan"; previously ruled by Jurchens but was new capital for the Mongols
significance: brought political unity
Chaghatai
definition: one of Chinggis Khan's sons whose descendents rued the khanate of Chaghatai
significance:
Golden Horde
definition: a Mongolian army that swept over eastern Europe in the 13th century
significance: brought unity to Russia
Yuan Dynasty
definition: the imperial dynasty of China from 1279 to 1368
significance: brought unity over China, albeit bad
Ilkhanate of Persia
definition: Abbasid empire toppled, Baghdad sacked, 1258
significance: Brought unity
Lamaist Buddhism
definition: prominent place for magic and supernatural powers; recognized Mongol leaders as legitimate rulers
significance: helped spread buddhism
Uighur Turks
definition: among the most important of the Mongols' allies were these people, who lived mostly in oasis cities along the silk roads; they were literate and often highly educated, and the Mongols needed that
significance: Helped the mongols succeed
Bubonic plague
definition: disease brought to Europe from the Mongols during the Middle Ages. It killed 1/3 of the population and helps end Feudalism
Ottoman Turks
definition: Muslims that took over Constantinople in 1453.
Istanbul
definition: the largest city and former capital of Turkey