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Nomadic Empires – Class 11 History notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 11 History, chapter 3. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

In the thirteenth century the Mongols, pastoral nomads of the Central Asian steppes, created the largest land empire in history under Genghis Khan and his successors. Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes in 1206 and led campaigns across China, Central Asia, Iran and beyond. The empire was held together by a disciplined army, the yasa (code of law), a courier system and tolerance of different religions. It later divided into separate khanates.

The Mongols and Genghis Khan

The Mongols were pastoralists who herded horses, sheep and other animals; some groups also hunted and gathered.
Temujin united the Mongol and Turkic tribes and was proclaimed Genghis Khan ('Oceanic Khan' or universal ruler) in 1206.
He organised the army on a decimal system (units of 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000) and broke up old tribal groupings to create loyalty to himself.

Conquests and administration

Campaigns conquered northern China, Central Asia and Iran; after Genghis Khan's death in 1227 his successors expanded into Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, taking Baghdad in 1258.
The empire was divided among his sons' lines (uluses); the Great Khan ruled from Mongolia and later China, where Kublai Khan founded the Yuan dynasty.
The yam, a courier system with relay stations, provided fast communication; the yasa was the legal code attributed to Genghis Khan.

Impact

The conquests caused great destruction and loss of life in many cities.
They also created a vast zone of security for trade along the Silk Route, encouraging exchange of goods, ideas and technologies.
Mongol rulers employed administrators from conquered peoples and allowed religious diversity; over time the khanates adopted local religions and cultures.

Key terms

Steppe: vast grasslands of Central Asia
Genghis Khan: the title of Temujin meaning universal ruler, adopted in 1206
Yasa: the legal code associated with Genghis Khan
Yam: the Mongol courier system with relay stations
Ulus: the territory allotted to a descendant of Genghis Khan

Important questions with answers

What was the yasa?2 marks

The yasa was the code of law and customs associated with Genghis Khan, which regulated military discipline, administration and social conduct and helped unify the Mongols.

How did Genghis Khan reorganise the Mongol army?3 marks

He organised the army on a decimal system with units of 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 soldiers. He broke up old tribal groups and mixed soldiers from different tribes, creating loyalty to himself and his family rather than to tribal chiefs. Strict discipline and mobility made the army very effective.

Explain how the Mongols built and governed their empire.5 marks

The Mongols were pastoral nomads of the Central Asian steppes, living in clans and tribes that often fought each other. Temujin united these tribes and in 1206 was proclaimed Genghis Khan, the universal ruler. He reorganised the army on a decimal basis, breaking up tribal loyalties and creating disciplined units loyal to him; Mongol cavalry was highly mobile and used siege techniques learnt from conquered peoples. Genghis Khan conquered northern China, Central Asia and Iran, and after his death in 1227 his successors extended the empire into Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, capturing Baghdad in 1258. The empire was divided among the lines of his sons into uluses, with a Great Khan as overall ruler; Kublai Khan later established the Yuan dynasty in China. Administration relied on the yasa, a code of law, on the yam courier system for fast communication, and on administrators from conquered societies such as Chinese, Iranians and Turks. The Mongols were tolerant of many religions. Their conquests caused enormous destruction, but they also created a secure zone that encouraged trade and the movement of people, goods and ideas along the Silk Route. Over time, the khanates adopted local religions and cultures and became separate states.

Quick revision

Mongols: pastoral nomads of the steppes.
Genghis Khan 1206; decimal army.
Conquests; uluses; Yuan dynasty.
Yasa, yam; trade along Silk Route.

Exam tips

Remember: 1206 Genghis Khan; 1227 his death; 1258 Baghdad.
Explain two ways in which Genghis Khan built loyalty in his army.

Practice MCQs

Temujin was proclaimed Genghis Khan in
1. 1066
2. 1206
3. 1258
4. 1368
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1206. He united the Mongol tribes.
The Mongols were mainly
1. settled farmers
2. sea traders
3. pastoral nomads
4. city builders
Show answer
Answer: (c) pastoral nomads. They lived on the steppes.
The Mongol courier system was called the
1. yasa
2. yam
3. ulus
4. jizya
Show answer
Answer: (b) yam. It used relay stations.
The legal code associated with Genghis Khan is the
1. Magna Carta
2. Sharia
3. Code of Hammurabi
4. yasa
Show answer
Answer: (d) yasa. It regulated Mongol life.
Kublai Khan founded the
1. Yuan dynasty
2. Ming dynasty
3. Mughal dynasty
4. Abbasid dynasty
Show answer
Answer: (a) Yuan dynasty. It ruled China.
Baghdad was captured by the Mongols in
1. 1206
2. 1227
3. 1258
4. 1398
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1258. It ended the Abbasid caliphate there.
Genghis Khan organised his army in units of
1. 5
2. 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000
3. 12 and 24
4. 50 only
Show answer
Answer: (b) 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000. This decimal system broke tribal loyalties.
One positive effect of Mongol rule was
1. no trade
2. end of all religions
3. a secure zone that encouraged trade along the Silk Route
4. banning travel
Show answer
Answer: (c) a secure zone that encouraged trade along the Silk Route. Exchange increased across Eurasia.

All chapters of Class 11 History

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.