Research Web
Mongolian Saddle
Thesis Statement: The Mongolian saddles elevated the the Mongols ability to conquer other civilizations through warfare and also represent the trade and art produced in Big Era 5.
Suike Earrings
Thesis Statement: These Suike earrings represent the importance of marriage, community, and art to the Mongols in Big Era 5.
Diplomatic Passport
Thesis Statement: The Mongolian saddles elevated the the Mongols ability to conquer other civilizations through warfare and also represent the trade and art produced in Big Era 5.
- Saddles have a wood base
- The pommel (the front part of the saddle) and the cantle (the back of the saddle) were raised high, creating a deep ridge in the middle of the saddle. This stabilized the rider and protected him from rushing forward or falling backward
- The seats were decorated with small pieces of metal that were carved with designs
- Stirrups were kept short, decreasing the risk of the foot passing through the stirrup of the rider fell
- The seat was very small in order to fit the short back of Mongolian horses
- The saddle high seat aided them in leading and stopping their horses because these directions relied on the way they sat
- The saddle allowed the horses back better balance
Suike Earrings
Thesis Statement: These Suike earrings represent the importance of marriage, community, and art to the Mongols in Big Era 5.
- Jewelry plays in important role of symbolic communication in Mongol marriages
- Young boys give the girls they intend to marry earrings
- Girls get their ears pierced at a very young age so that they can wear their earrings immediately
- Married women wear heavier, more elaborate earrings
- The weight and size of the earrings was so much that rings had to be attached to the hair or headdress to hold them up
- Jewelry and other personal objects were visual symbols of tribal affiliation and social status
Diplomatic Passport
- Iron with silver inlay
- One of Genghis Khan’s greatest inventions was the passport, called a paizi.
- Promoted trade by guaranteeing safe passage for merchants, who were issued official passport medallions
- Genghis introduced currency
- Coins bearing the Khan’s name were minted in many cities across the empire and paper money was adopted from China
- The Mongols began to deal in currency rather than goods.