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AH4154   Chinggis Khan and His Descendants: Art and Culture in Mongol Eurasia

Academic year(s): 2023-2024

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be confirmed

In the thirteenth century, Chinggis Khan (ca. 1162–1227) and his descendants created a vast Mongol Empire that covered large parts of Asia, the Middle East and Europe. While their conquests shook the Old World to its very foundations, their powerful patronage fostered a climate of extremely intense creativity in cultural production. This module explores the art and culture of the Mongol Eurasia in the light of both contemporary written sources and material evidences. We will start from Mongolia on the eve of its rise and investigate the art and architecture of the four branches (ulus) of the empire after Chinggis Khan: the Yuan in China (1271–1368), the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia (ca. 1227–1363), the Golden Horde that extended from the Carpathian Mountains in eastern Europe to the steppes of Siberia (ca. 1227–1502), and the bordering Ilkhanate in Iran (1256–1353). Other topics include the exchange of the Mongols with the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and Syria and the Latin West.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass AH1001 or pass AH1003 and pass AH2001 and pass AH2002

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 3 Seminars (x10 weeks) 1 field trip

Scheduled learning hours: 36

Guided independent study hours: 252

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% coursework


Re-assessment: Coursework = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr Y Yu
Module teaching staff: Dr Yusen Yu
Module coordinator email yy68@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

  • Discuss aspects of art, architecture and urbanism in the Mongol domain and beyond
  • Systematically analyse the content and style of such works
  • Engage critically with different types of primary sources
  • Present clear analytical discussions of material and issues in both written and oral form
  • Understand the medieval cultures from a comparative and connective perspective