Genghis Khan Essay

Last updated over 2 years ago

1 question

Note from the author:

To be given after classwork.

Instructions

Below you will see three source documents to prove a claim.
A claim is a statement of belief. It can be true or false.
Pick one of the following claims to prove, disprove, OR make your own!
Claim 1 – Genghis Khan was a vicious barbarian.
Claim 2 – Genghis Khan was a unifier who paved the way for the modern world.
Claim 3 – Genghis Khan was a great man, with good and evil qualities.

Source 1
Secondary Source
History vs. Genghis Khan
By: Alex Gendler
Published: Jul 2, 2015
He was one of the most fearsome warlords who ever lived, waging an unstoppable conquest across the Eurasian continent. But was Genghis Khan a vicious barbarian or a unifier who paved the way for the modern world? Alex Gendler puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs Genghis Khan.
Ted-Ed

Source 2
Primary Source
Letter to Changchun
By: Chinggis Khan
Written in: 1219
Translated by E. Bretschneider, 1875
Chinggis Khan himself had a letter written to a Chinese sage whom he had invited to discuss religious topics. The sage’s companion included this letter in the account of the trip. 
"Heaven has abandoned China owing to its haughtiness and extravagant luxury. But I, living in the northern wilderness, have not inordinate passions. I hate luxury and exercise moderation. I have only one coat and one food. I consider the people my children and take an interest in talented men as if they were my brothers... At military exercises I am always in the front and in time of battle am never behind. In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work, and uniting the whole world into one empire."
AP: World History Modern

Portrait painting of Genghis Khan after he became the emperor of Yuan Dynasty China towards the end of his life. This art is a primary source.

Source 3
Primary Source
Speech by Chinggis Qahan 
Sometime around or between 1189 and 1206
After wiping out the Tatars and plundering them of everything, Chinggis Qahan arranged a great council of his clan to decide what to do with the Tatar people. The Tatars killed Mongolian and Chinese ancestors. They entered a single yurt and conferred. 
‘From early days the Tatars have destroyed our ancestors and fathers. We must gain vengeance on behalf of our fathers, we must seek revenge for our ancestors. Let them be killed. We will kill all except the children, down to the very last male. We will make slaves of the survivors. We will divide them among ourselves, some here, some there.’
The Secret History of the Mongols

For most people the Mongols were frightening. They would appear out of open fields in mass numbers. Less a people and more a force of nature. The above painting is semi-accurate but stereotypical painting of a Mongolian army. The painting demonstrates what most people thought of Mongolians. This art is a secondary source. 

Required

Write an essay to prove or disprove a claim using source documents.
Make sure your essay states a claim, uses evidence, explains evidence, and links the evidence/explanation to the claim.
Rubric (How you will be graded for this essay.)
4 - I wrote an essay with a claim, used evidence, explained evidence, and linked evidence to the claim.
3 - I wrote an essay with a claim, used evidence, and explained evidence.
2 - I wrote an essay with a claim and used evidence.
1 - I wrote an essay with a claim.
0 - I did not write an essay.

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