The Mongol Century · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

The Mongols: Destroyers and Joiners

History · World History · ages 12-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What was one Mongol military edge over settled states?

    • Taller city walls
    • Fast riders on horseback
    • Bigger wooden ships

  2. How far did the empire reach at its height?

    • From Paris to London
    • From Korea to Hungary
    • From Egypt to Spain

  3. Guarded roads let merchants and postal riders cross Asia more safely.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Why did settled armies struggle against Mongol riders?

    • Riders built higher walls around themselves
    • Riders fought only from ships
    • Riders struck fast and moved before slow armies replied

  5. A merchant wants to send silk from China to Persia. Why is the trip easier now?

    • One guarded road joins both lands
    • Each town taxes him twice as much
    • The road moved closer to his house

  6. The yassa was a set of Mongol laws, later written in a new script.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Two heirs split the empire and close their shared border. What breaks?

    • Horses forget how to run
    • Nothing changes for merchants
    • The joined road splits, and travel grows slow and dear

  8. A student writes only about cities the Mongols burned. What is missing?

    • The joining: guarded roads, relays, and trade
    • Nothing, burning is the whole story
    • The names of every horse
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The Mongols: Destroyers and Joiners W1-mt_9dNatkNqRt-s1

  1. Fast riders on horseback · Riders who lived on horseback struck fast and moved before slower armies replied.
  2. From Korea to Hungary · At its height it joined lands from Korea in the east to Hungary in the west.
  3. True · One authority over the roads meant safer miles for trade and messages.
  4. Riders struck fast and moved before slow armies replied · Speed let Mongols choose the fight, while foot armies arrived too late.
  5. One guarded road joins both lands · One rule over the whole road means guards, relays, and fair taxes.
  6. True · Chinggis set down the laws, then ordered a script to record them.
  7. The joined road splits, and travel grows slow and dear · One authority made the road safe; a closed border brings back tolls and danger.
  8. The joining: guarded roads, relays, and trade · What they joined matters as much: safe roads moved goods and ideas.
Worksheet · LightMySky