12. Referring to all the sources in this lesson, describe the Mongol people’s relationship with: a. the land
b. their animals c. the weather d. the imperial Chinese e. each other. Answers and sample responses for this topic are available online.
LESSON 10.5 How did Temujin come to power?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe who Temujin was, and how the attributes he showed as a boy would dictate the type of leader he would become.
Tune in There are no portraits from when Temujin was alive, so SOURCE1 is likely the most accurate depiction of him that we have, as it was commissioned by his grandson, Kublai, after his death. Kublai wished to make the most accurate portrayal possible. Discuss some of the following questions: 1. Why do you think Temujin didn’t want images of himself? This was very unusual for the time. 2. Are there any challenges to understanding Temujin which come from not knowing what he looked like? 3. The man in the portrait looks very ordinary. Why do you think Kublai wanted such a simple version of his grandfather? 4. In the painting, the artist has depicted Temujin wearing white robes like a Mandarin sage. Why do you think this is?
SOURCE1 A painted silk portrait of Temujin, known to the world as Genghis Khan, made after his death
10.5.1 Early life Temujin’s early life is unclear, but he was likely born around 1162. His father, Yusegei, was a minor chieftain of the Borjigin clan, who was poisoned when Temujin was young. His mother, Yulun, taught him the skills of a warrior. The Mongols were divided into many tribes that often fought each other — a shaman named Teb-Tengri described their life as ‘no respite, only battle’. Temujin learned to survive by mastering military strategy, diplomacy and negotiation.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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