Great Wall
Why was the Great Wall originally built?
To protect China from nomadic raiders and invasions from the north.
What was the real name of Genghis Khan?
Temujin.
What type of people were the Mongols?
Pastoral nomads.
What major trade route became safer under Mongol rule?
The Silk Road.
The Great Wall is one single continuous wall.
FALSE – it is a network of fortifications.
Which emperor began connecting existing walls in 221 BC after unifying China?
Qin Shi Huang.
In what year was Temujin named Genghis Khan?
1206.
Where did the Mongols live?
The grasslands (steppes) of Central Asia near Mongolia.
How did the Mongols improve communication across their empire?
They created a relay system of horses and riders.
The Mongols immediately knew how to conquer castles.
FALSE – they learned siege warfare from conquered peoples.
What nickname was given to the Great Wall because many workers died building it?
The Long Graveyard or the Wall of Suffering.
What does the title "Khan" mean?
Leader or ruler.
At its height, the Mongol Empire stretched from Mongolia to what sea?
The Caspian Sea (and eventually much farther west).
Name one thing that spread along Mongol trade routes.
Ideas, inventions, foods, religions, or technology.
The Mongols helped increase trade across Eurasia
TRUE.
Which dynasty rebuilt much of the wall using brick and stone?
The Ming Dynasty.
How did Genghis Khan gain support from common people?
He promoted people based on skill and loyalty instead of wealth or social class.
Which city did Genghis Khan's grandson conquer in 1258?
Baghdad
How were the Mongols unusually tolerant compared to many conquerors?
They allowed people to practice their own religions.
The Great Wall successfully kept all Mongol invaders out.
FALSE – the Mongols conquered China in the 1200s.
Approximately how many miles long is the entire Great Wall network?
More than 13,000 miles (including all branches and sections).
What famous military skill helped Mongol warriors dominate battles?
Expert horseback riding and archery.
What was the largest contiguous land empire in history?
The Mongol Empire.
Why did the Mongols move skilled people such as artists, engineers, and scholars around the empire?
To share knowledge and strengthen their empire.
Some historians believe Mongol trade routes may have helped spread the Black Death.
TRUE.