Table of Contents
Military Leaders Overview
Another common form of government is rule by a military leader. Sometimes these leaders may also be royalty. They may also pass this title on to their children, like royalty does. The distinction between royalty and military leader is not always a clear line. I have separated out these two titles because they were often conceived of as deriving most of their power from controlling military troops instead of a family name or hereditary title. That being said, it's complicated!
Types of Military Leaders
Khan and Khatun
Khan was a titled used by Turkic and Mongolian people to refer to their leaders. The two most famous khans in AP World History are Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan. The feminine equivalent is khatun. Khans could rule over empires, khanates, or sultanates.
Khan is also an example of how it can be difficult to categorize titles. Genghis Khan established the Mongol Empire through military force. His descendants expanded the Mongol Empire through military force. It makes sense to call Khan a military title. At the same time, khans were all from the same family. I could categorize them as hereditary rulers. Mongol elites also elected a new khan when the old one died. So, maybe the best fit in the elected leaders category.
Either way, the Turks and Mongols conquered large parts of Asia between 1200 and 1750 CE. As a result, elements of their culture spread to these locations. Elements of this lasted long after those empires fell. For example, "Khan" is a common last name in many parts of Asia.
Shogun
The Shogun was the commander of Japan's military. For much of Japan's history, the Emperor of Japan was only a symbolic leader. The Shogun had real political power. In practice, the title of shogun was hereditary like many royal titles. This allowed various families to remain in power for extended periods of history. A shogun rules over a shogunate.
AP World History students will study the Tokugawa Shogunate. This was the final shogunate in Japanese history. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan's emperor retook control of the government. We refer to this later period of time as Imperial Japan.
The Caravanserai
Welcome to the Synapse! This is the part of the post where I feature something relevant to the post that I think you might enjoy.
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens - Jack Weatherford
Genghis Khan always steals the show during Unit 1. And for good reason! He is an incredibly complex, and almost larger-than-life figure in history. But Mongol women could hold their own, and their stories are less often covered in history. This book is full of court intrigue, assassinations, and political jockeying. It's a thrill for anyone interested in the Mongols.
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