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The Mongols : Leaders and Empire

Students will examine maps to understand the extent of the Mongol Empire and to analyze the extent of the Empire under different Khans and understand the extent of these empires in relation to modern-day countries. Students will then engage in a jigsaw-style debate about the merits of several Mongol khans.

Lesson: Mapping and Jigsaw Debate
Grade level : 9-12
Time: One long class (80-90 minutes) or two shorter classes and a homework assignment
Author: Lorene Whyte, Needham High School

  1. Teacher Preparation:

    Prepare photocopies and transparencies of the Mongol Empire and Modern Asia outline maps (see end of lesson for map sources).

  2. Supplies/Resources (Please see the Works Cited below for a full list of sources):

    1. Photocopies/transparencies of political maps of the Mongol Empire
    2. Photocopies/transparencies of political maps of modern Asia, without the countries labeled
    3. Maps corresponding to each khan's rule
      • Note: map resources on the web are constantly changing, so links in Works Cited may not work. Search web for "Mongol Empire" and "Outline Map" for available maps. A great outline map resource is at the University of Texas' map library
    4. Overhead projector
    5. Maps, globes, atlases
    6. Internet Access


  3. Process

    Pairs of students can work together. Distribute a map of the political units of the Mongolian Empire. Using textbook or classroom maps, globe or an atlas, have the students list at least 10 present day countries that correspond to the area covered by the khanates. (Some counties are as follows: Parts of China, North and South Korea, Russia, Tibet, Mongolia, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Laos, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.) Students may work in pairs to complete the task faster.

  4. Share/Discussion

    Using the transparency of the political map of Asia (without the countries), have one student from each of the pairs label the present day countries mentioned above with an overhead marker.

    1. Place the transparency map with the countries labeled over the other transparency of the khanate political units. Compare and contrast the boundaries of the countries with those of the khanates.
    2. Ask controlling questions such as:
      • Which khanates and countries are the largest?
      • Which of the khanates and countries are the smallest?
      • What continent/s did the Mongol Empire span?
      • Are there other past empires that rival the size of the Mongols'?


  5. Research/Jigsaw

    Fill in with text for this section. You can also insert list items like the following:

    1. Divide the class into thirds. Assign each group a Khan: Genghis, Ogodel or Guyuk / Mongke. Have each student independently research the Khan on the web, taking notes and viewing maps indicating the extent of the empire under the assigned Khan. (in class or as a homework assignment)
    2. Students should then meet in their common groups of Genghis Khan, Ogodei and Guyuk/Mongke. Then ask students to discuss reasons that their khan is the greatest of all the Mongol khans. As a group, they should be able to list five reasons to support their claim to greatness. Have the students consider factors such as the size of the empire, the battles won, their rise to power, and their administrative prowess.
    3. Groups will then divide and form new groups so that there is one of each khan in each small triad. Each student will then present their reasons as to why their khan is the greatest ruler. (You could also ask students to role-play their khan.)
    4. Come together as a class to discuss what has been learned about the Mongolian Empire in terms of the expansion of land and the accomplishments of the khans.


  6. Works Cited:

    Fill in with text for this section. You can also insert list items like the following:

    1. Lane, James, Robert Miltner and Myrna Warren. The Great Empires: The Mongols in China. World History: The Renaissance through the Age of Revolution. C. Brown Company: The Center for Learning, 1986.
    2. National Geographic: Highlights from December, 1996 issue.
    3. Maps of the Mongol Empire: