Work Text:
Mike was so fucked. The MCQ had been easy enough. The SAQ’s were fine. Hell, even the DBQ was alright, but he still had one section left on his AP World History test.
The LEQ.
He had been feeling hopeful about the LEQ, namely because he could pick which prompt he wanted. This was, however, the wishful thinking of a chronic procrastinator who had never previously had to try in any of his classes.
Mike was starting to get a terrible, uneasy fluttering throughout his abdomen as he looked over the prompts. There was no way he could write about the Mughal Empire, and he didn’t even remember that one Indian protester guy’s name. Gumbo? Shit.
That left only one prompt:
In the period circa 1200 to 1450, the expansion of empires such as the Mongol Empire facilitated trade and communication across Eurasia.
Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which Mongol expansion affected the peoples of Eurasia during this period.
Shit, okay. What happened in Eurasia from 1200–1450 that was because of the Mongols? C’mon Mike, milk those brain cows! There was the Yuan Dynasty, of course, but what else? Maybe something about the Silk Roads? Or Marco Polo? No, wait, scratch that. Not Marco Polo.
He was sold to One Direction by his dad, Mike’s brain supplied unhelpfully.
As he stared at the back of Will's head from across the room, a faint memory of a Heimler History unit 2 video swirled in the back of his mind. The Bubonic Plague! How could he forget? Wasting no more time, he got started on his Essay.
The time period of 1200–1450 was widely characterized by the expansion of trade networks throughout Afro-Eurasia, and the diffusion of different cultures, ideas, plants, and diseases that brought with it. Though they existed previously, Trans-Saharan trade, Indian Ocean trade, and trade along the Silk Roads all expanded in scope with innovations and improvements in technology such as Lateen sails, magnetic compasses, saddles, and paper money. Along the Silk Roads, Mongols were employed to protect routes along the silk roads to fend off against anyone interfering with trade (including the Mongols themselves). This was mainly for their own benefit of trade. The Mongolian Empire also conquered most of Eurasia during this time.
Mongol expansion greatly affected the peoples of Eurasia from 1200–1450 by taking control of governments like in the Yuan Dynasty and by facilitating trade, causing the spread of disease.
The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, sought to conquer Eurasia. That they did, for the most part. Notably, Genghis Khan’s grandson Khubalai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty of China. This Mongol-led Dynasty was big on resettlement, which basically was a system where they moved around workers depending on where they were needed. If you refused, they would probably kill your family and it just was overall in your best interest to go be a blacksmith somewhere else. This effect of Mongol expansion greatly altered people’s lives. They would have to pack up and move to wherever they were wanted, which meant saying goodbye to the life you had made for yourself in your (previous) home.
Another thing that greatly affected the peoples of Eurasia was the Bubonic Plague, otherwise known as the Black Death. As previously mentioned, Mongols were posted everywhere along the Silk Roads to help facilitate trade. This peaceful period of Mongol protection was known as Pax Mongolica. During Pax Mongolica, trade along the Silk Roads was looking good. Culture, religion, ideas, language, and goods were spreading better than ever. However, along these very trade routes where Mongols were keeping things prosperous, something sinister was lurking. The Bubonic Plague spread along these routes and through caravanserai, which were like roadside inns along the Silk Roads that were placed about a day’s journey from one another. Before they knew it, Eurasia was in the midst of the Black Death. This pandemic is estimated to have killed about ⅓ of the Middle East population, and an astounding ½ of Europe. If not for the Pax Mongolica, the Black Death may never have happened. This shows how greatly Eurasia was affected by Mongol expansion, being hit with one of the worst pandemics in recorded history.
Mongol expansion, whether intentionally or not, affected Eurasia in a major and irreversible way from 1200–1450. This is because of the Mongol control over the Yuan Dynasty of China, which forced people to relocate their lives across the Mongolian Empire, and the facilitation of trade under Pax Mongolica leading to the Black Death.
With a mere 2 minutes left to spare, Mike looked over his completed LEQ. Not too bad, he thought.
That hot July morning, Will texted bright and early to let Mike know that the AP scores had been posted.
Will
hey did you see they posted the ap scores??
8:13
no i did NOT
8:24
to be honest im really scared to look at mine
8:25
oh im sure you will be fine
8:25
i got a 5 btw :p
8:25
STOP now im gonna feel terrible when i get my inevitable 2
8:25
but also... HOW ARE YOU SO SMART OMG GOOD JOB
8:26
haha thanks
8:26
but also dont talk yourself down!! i bet you totally passed
8:27
well i guess theres only one way to find out
8:27
dont keep me waiting :)
8:28
holy shit
8:33
what
8:34
what is it
8:34
did you pass?
8:34
i got a 3
8:35
hey thats a pass!
8:35
we should go celebrate
8:35
dennys?
8:36
you know me well.
8:36