Time: T & Th: 9:35-10:50am                                                                                                     Michael Brose

Place: Hist 156 (Seminar Rm)                                                                                                     Office: History 360

                                                                                                                                        Phone: 6-5125; email: mbrose@uwyo.edu

                                                                                                                             Office Hours: MWF 10-11am, or by appointment

The Mongol Empire was one of the greatest empires in world history, covering virtually all of Eurasia (from the Pacific Ocean to the outskirts of Central Europe). This course examines the history of that nomadic empire from a world history perspective. Thus, major themes of this course will include the structure of a nomadic empire, how that nomadic empire interacted with the various settled states it conquered, and ramifications of the Mongol conquest on trade, technology, and social and intellectual developments across Eurasia, during the time period from approx. 1200 to 1450 ce. Since this is an upper-division seminar we will use an analytic approach, favoring understanding of themes, connections, and cultural implications. Discussion of readings will take up a large portion of class time, and students are expected to participate in and lead discussion.

Required Texts: Three textbooks, an on-line coursepack, and occasional reserve readings are all required.

- David Morgan, The Mongols; Christopher Dawson, Mission to Asia; Charles Halperin, Russia and Golden Horde

- an online course packet => shrink-wrapped code available for purchase in bookstore

Bibliography of on-line coursepack (in order of reading):

S. Bastug, "Tribe, Confederation and State Among Altaic Nomads of the Asian Steppe"

P. Jackson, "From Ulus to Khanate: The Making of the Mongol States c. 1220-1290"

J. Dardess, "From Mongol Empire to Yuan Dynasty"

M. Rossabi, "The Muslims in the Early Yuan Dynasty"

D. Morgan, "Persian Perceptions of Mongols and Europeans"

R. Amitai-Preiss, "Mongol Imperial Ideology and the Ilkhanid War Against the Mamluks"

S. Menache, "Tartars, Jews, Saracens and the Jewish-Mongol Plot of 1241"

R. Amitai, "Edward of England and Abagha Ilkhan"

W. Phillips, "Voluntary Strangers"

U. Barkmann, "Some Comments on the Consequences of the Decline of the Mongol Empire..."

- Coe Reserves => some readings will be on reserve in Coe Library, as noted in the weekly schedule.

**useful material on some web-sites:

    - silk road accounts;  Map of Mongol Empire

Attend./Partic. 25%     |         A = 90% or more of total points

Midterm Exam 15%     |         B = 80% - 89% of total points

Final exam 15%             |         C = 70% - 79% of total points

Research Paper 45%     |         D = 60% - 69% of total points

(outline 10%; 1^st draft 15%; final draft 20%) | F = 59% or fewer of total points

Written Work: will include a substantial research paper, and a midterm and final exam (in essay format). You will be expected to produce an initial outline (worth 10%), then a first draft of your paper (15%), and then a final draft (20%), all on the dates indicated on the class schedule below. See the link to Chicago Style, which I require to you use in your research paper. Since the vast majority of scholarship on Mongol history is in article or monograph form, you should choose your research topic in consultation with the instructor. You should also feel free to consult with him for any writing, research, or substantive questions. I am expecting a final product of 15-25 pages in length. The on-line coursepack I have constructed for this course is meant as an introduction to these kinds of materials, as well as a reader, and you should try to use these materials in your papers if possible. Last, be sure to start thinking about your topic early. Scholarly research and writing take time, and I will be expecting a paper that reads well and is well researched.  

My Logic of Grading - for Essays and Papers

Here's the deal: C is an average grade; to get an A or a B you must produce above-average work. D essay does not meet the minimum requirements, either in terms of content or quality, but its not quite failing.

In a C paper, students deal adequately with the material and meet the minimum requirements: the paper is logically organized, there is a reasonable idea presented, and there is use of factual material to bolster the argument. The essay shows an average standard of literacy, and probably contains numerous grammatical and intellectual errors. C essays also tend to lean toward the general rather than the specific and provide more summary than analysis.

B work shows an ability to use information in a meaningful way. Here the student is presenting thoughtful ideas and analysis and making ample use of the materials to make her/his case. The B quality essay goes beyond basic literacy, makes no factual errors, and should flow well as an argument and narrative.

To get an A, students must demonstrate an outstanding ability to present and understand ideas, marshal evidence to sustain these ideas, and write well. This paper will impress me with its relatively sophisticated concepts and arguments, with its fine command of the materials, and with its well-written narrative.

Some notes on writing:

An essay should have a clearly stated thesis, followed by a well-developed body that provides evidence for your contention. Move from the general to the specific, i.e., start with the broad thesis, break it down into the component elements of the argument, and provide specific details and examples for each point. Use footnotes for direct quotations from the text--if you don't, you're plagiarizing. End with a clear conclusion that reinforces your thesis; don't simply repeat the introduction, but don't bring up new points that have not been addressed in the essay. And give your essay a title--NOT "Essay No. 1." A good title will help focus your thoughts. You are also expected to know the rules of grammar, spelling and syntax, and they will count towards your grade. Use the spell checker on your computer; use a dictionary; use a style manual, such as Strunk and White's The Elements of Style or Diana Hacker's A Pocket Style Manual. Last, writing is difficult work, and you should begin a draft of your paper early. This way you will be able to refine your thoughts and argument through a series of revisions. Also, I will be happy to help you by discussing ideas or reviewing your rough draft (even if you only have a few opening paragraphs).

I will be in my office during office hours, and will also be glad to meet you there at other times if those don't work. Just be sure to call or email me for an appointment. You should feel free to come see me about any problem or question re. this course; I'm here to help you!

I will construct a class listserve early in the semester and will use this to send announcements, syllabus changes or updates, and any other relevant information to all class members. I also encourage members of the class to use the listserve as a kind of class bulletin board, where they can post questions, comments, or other relevant information to other class members and to me. I will also post the syllabus on my webpage (uwyo.edu/mbrose), and will update that from time to time with on-line links to important or interesting information that pertains to the class. I'll let you know of these updates via the listserve. Finally, I'm trying this on-line coursepack for the first time. I would like feedback from you on it; problems, suggestions, etc.

Class Schedule and Reading Assignments

Prelude: The Mongol Nomads in the N. Eurasian Steppe

Week 1 (9/3,5): Course Intro. Nomads, tribalism, background to Mongols;  Reading: Bastug (on-line); Morgan, intro. & ch. 2

Just What is a Nomadic Empire? Chinggis Qan and the Early Empire

Week 2 (9/10, 12) Temujin and the Mongol tribes;   Reading: Morgan, ch. 1; Krader (Coe reserves)

Week 3 (9/17, 19) What does it take to run an empire?         Reading: Jackson (on-line)

Week 4 (9/24, 26) Conquests of North China, Central Asia, Tibet             **Paper outline due Thurs, 9/26

                        Reading: Franke (Coe reserves)

The Mongols in China: Qubilai Qan and the Yuan dynasty

Week 5 (10/1, 3) Succession disputes within the Mongol imperial clan;    Reading: Morgan, chs. 3-5

    **Map of China

Week 6 (10/8, 10) Qubilai's new Dynasty & impact on his Empire;  Reading: Dardess (on-line)

Week 7 (10/15, 17) Mongols in China after Qubilai;       Reading: Rossabi (on-line); Morgan, ch. 6

The Mongols in Russia: the Golden Horde and the end of Kiev Rus'

Week 8 (10/22, 24) The "Western Mongols" under Batu, etc.   **Midterm. Thurs. 10/24;   Reading: Halperin, chs. 1-6

Week 9 (10/29, 31) Golden Horde in Conflict w/ Brothers; **Paper 1st draft due Thurs. 10/31; Reading: Halperin, chs. 7-11

The Mongols in Persia: Muslims and the Crusaders

Week 10 (11/5, 7) Hulegu and the Il-Qans in Persia;    Reading: Morgan, ch. 7; Morgan (on-line)

    Images of Il-Qan;  Il-Qan Short History

Week 11 (11/12, 14) The Muslim Mongols;       Reading: Amitai-Preiss (on-line); Menache (on-line); Map: Mongol Invasions

Week 12 (11/19, 21) Conflict between Russian and Persian Mongols & larger impacts  **Paper Due Thurs. 11/21

            Reading: Amitai (on-line); Kramarovsky (Coe reserve)

Mongol Contacts with the West: Travelers

Week 13 (11/26) The Mongol impact on world trade;   Reading: Dawson, intro., pp. 3-86; Philips (on-line)    See John of Plano Carpini's Route

Week 14 (12/3, 5) Christian views of the Mongols: Prester John and other illusions

        Reading: Dawson, pp. 89-237; Barkmann (on-line)    See William Rubruck's Route

Week 15 (12/10, 12) Mongol views of the Christians and Europe;      Reading: Morgan, ch. 8

Final Exam (t b a)