#mongols
Sorghaghtani Beki
Kereyid princess (a clan within modern China and Mongolia) and daughter-in-law of Genghis Khan
Birth late 1100’s - Death 1252
Claim to fame: one of the most powerful and competent women in the Mongol Empire, she promoted education and tolerance over exploitation.
As an adolescent, Sorghaghtani’s father gave her to Genghis Khan, who then passed her to his son, Tolui. The marriage produced four sons and, like most Mongol women of the time, Sorghaghtani managed affairs at home during the regular absence of her campaigning husband.
After Tolui’s death, Sorghaghtani controlled his appanages in parts of Mongolia, Iran and China. She refused marraige proposals from prestigious men, claiming that her sons needed her attention. This was an important decision for the Mongol Empire as all four sons, Möngke Khan, Hulagu Khan, Ariq Böke, and Kublai Khan became leaders in their own right.
Although illiterate, Sorghaghtani recognised the importance of literacy in running a widespread empire. Her sons therefore studied different languages and cultures from within the empire in order to better administer conquered lands. She was a Nestorian Christian but respected other religions, likewise, her sons were liberal minded and tolerant in matters of religion. She instilled in them her belief that the peoples of the Empire must be supported rather than mindlessly exploited.
Sorghaghtani raised her sons to be leaders, removed competitors and manoeuvred family politics in their favour. Her influence was decisive and considerably strengthened Mongol rule.
Sorghaghtani was well remembered by Muslim, Chinese and Christian chroniclers alike. European missionaries described her as “the most renowned of the Mongols”, and Syriac scholar Bar Hebraeus quoted, “If I were to see among the race of women another woman like this, I should say that the race of women was far superior to that of men.”
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Mongol invasions of Japan
The Mongol invasion attempts of 1274 and 1281 were important nation building points in Japanese history. Through these failed attempts came about a stronger sense of Japanese identity as well as setting a boundary on mongol expansion.
The word “kamikaze” or “divine winds” was widely used to describe these events as the Mongol lost the majority of their troops to major storms that swept through the sea of Japan just as the Mongols made their way to the Japanese mainland.
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Artefact identified as a handbag from 14th century Mosul, Iraq. Made of brass, inlaid with gold and silver. A court scene showing Il-Khanid influence is seen along the top:
A man and a woman (slightly damaged) in Mongol clothing and feathered hats appear seated on a dais, surrounded by attendants and courtiers, including a falconer on the far left, a lute player on the far right and parasol carrier (also on the right).
A page to the right of centre in the above scene is said to be carrying the handbag over their right shoulder, a mirror in their right hand, and a napkin in their left:
(Images and descriptions via the BBC: The world’s oldest handbag?)
#I am not clear on why they think it’s a women’s handbag specifically #do men at court never need to freshen up? #napkin? mirror? no? #and the way they talk about ‘islamic art’ in the article kinda irritates me #so read it if you feel like being annoyed
These tags are so on point. Also, so is the handbag.
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Bowl with fish motifs
first half of 14th cen, Iran.
“Ilkhanid‑period potters in Iran imitated the range of green glazes of imported Chinese celadon wares, though they did not always succeed in duplicating their colors. This bowl is one of the more accomplished attempts. Its color, shape, and decoration of three playful fish relates closely to similar wares produced during the Song period (960–1279) in the Chinese kilns of Longquan.”
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Textile with winged lions and griffins,
Central Asia, mid-13th century. Lampas weave, gold thread on silk foundation.
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Princess Humayun spies Humay at the gate
from a Three Poems of Khwaju Kirmani. Baghdad, 1396.
“Humāy u Humāyūn was completed in 1331 in response to a request to enchant Muslim audiences with a Magian theme. Prince Humay, while hunting, is led by a ruby-lipped onager to the Queen of the Fairies who shows him a portrait of Humayun, daughter of the Emperor of China. He falls deeply in love and sets off to find her. His quest led him through many adventures but eventually he won her and became ruler of the Chinese empire.”
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Fritware dish
Kashan, Iran. 1268
“The devastation wreaked by the Mongols was not able to stifle the creation of art in the Middle East for very long, and this dish, dated 1268, shows that the highly specialized potteries in Kashan quickly resumed production.
The Far Eastern influence that the Mongols brought with them is found in the shape of the dish, which copies Chinese celadon porcelain, and in some of the flowers. The complicated geometric decoration, in contrast, is purely Islamic. Using a six-petaled flower as a starting point, the dish was filled out with an intricate interlacing based on an octagon. It consists of eight white bands that change direction eight times and alternately run over and under one another.”
UH, OKAY, but like, this dish exists BECAUSE of the Mongol invasions and the value they placed on human capital and the exchange of ideas, and those flowers are prunus blossoms lifted directly from Chinese art, so maybe step off a little with your “they couldn’t stifle it!!!!” narrative, David Collection.
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“this idea of Buddhism making the Mongols docile still rears its head today in Mongolia […] Christian converts justify their religious switch with the idea that before Buddhism, Mongolia ruled other countries, but then Buddhism came and made it weak. Through this explanation, the converts […] infer that Christianity will make Mongolia powerful again”— Michael May, Culture and Customs of Mongolia(2018).
‘Brothers in arms - Invasion’
No, I haven’t played Ghost of Tsushima… yet, hehe :) but I can’t wait to try it! I’m very excited about this game!
So, I have never been a big supporter of the theory that the knights of medieval Europe had no contact with the Samurai. I mean, of course, probably not on a scale worth noting by historians of the period, sure! But, knowing human nature and curiosity about the world, I simply do not believe that no knight or some mercenary working for a merchant, did not made it to Japan :) This is a story of William, a young hospital knight who lost his faith, disappointed with the crusades, at the end of the 13th century, with a merchant caravan set off to Asia. After years of travel and extraordinary adventures, he ended up in Japan, where he becomes a friend of a Samurai named Sukesada. Together they face the Mongol invasion. William wrote down his adventures in his personal journal, as you can see he liked to embellish some parts… ;)
Time-lapse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQvBfu0OWk
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pro advice from the man who invaded and conquered russia in the winter
“This is for Taka!!”
