CEUS U368 0671 Moses
The Mongol Conquest
This course deals with the conquest by the Mongols in the l3th century of most of the Eurasian
world. The focus of the lectures and the lecture material is from the point of view of the Mongols
themselves, and not on the historical accounts of those whom the Mongols conquered. Particular
attention is given to the origins of the Mongols, to their legends, and to the pre-conquest period
as described in the text called The Secret History of the Mongols. The bulk of the course is
concerned with the cultural context of Mongol society, the feudal wars that occupied Chinggis
Khan and his descendants, and to the state of the territories bordering Mongolia. The basic text
for the course is The Secret History of the Mongols, with associated interpretive readings.
Exams and Course Requirements: Grades for the course are determined by the number of
points lost through a series of quizzes, work assignments, and examinations on the following
basis:
| Two quizzes (75 points each) |
150 points |
| Midterm examination (150 points
each) |
150 points |
| Term paper |
50 points |
| Final examination |
200 points |
| Total |
550 points |
Grading will be done on the basis of a straight three percent scale. See the grade scale attached at
the end of the syllabus for the exact grade breakdown. Exams will be based 70% on the lectures
and 30% on the readings. The final exam will be comprehensive, and based 50% on material from
before midterm and 50% from midterm to the end of the semester.
Days and Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00-9:15.