History Court: Genghis Kahn

Directions: Students will simulate designated roles and hold a mock-trial against Mongol ruler, Genghis Kahn. Roles will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of material, not personal opinions. Jury decisions will result from the team which best represents their argument; no correct answer, yet jury must provide reasoning for their final decision during their decision presentation.

Jury Decision:

·  Innocent- proven to not be involved/ held accountable

·  Not guilty- found to not be 100% guilty however may be involved in certain situations. Used often when attorneys can/ do not “prove” one’s complete involvement, yet do not “defend” one’s innocence

·  Guilty- 100% involved in the charges and found responsible

Charges: Genghis Kahn is being charged with war crimes against humanity during his 13th century conquests

Indictment Punishment:

·  Life in prison- Jury must come to a majority agreement. Everyone does not have to have the same opinion, however majority of the students deciding must agree on the jury’s punishment

·  Death penalty- Jury must all agree

*Note: Prosecuting team will decide the punishment for the designated charges

Prosecuting- charging Kahn with brutal war crimes and uncivilized manners during his barbaric conquests and ruling.

Defense- believes the Kahn’s united the Mongols and connected the East and West, which encouraged trade, cross-cultural exchange, political and economic stability, and peace among empires.

Assignment:

Depending on roles, students will complete the requirements based on their assigned “opinions/ sides”.

All team summaries are due by April 25th.

Note: Students will complete team summary assignment by April 25th. Students will not be able to participate in courtroom trial simulation if their individual summaries are not turned-in by due date.

Role / Student / Opinions/ Side
Genghis Kahn / Tre Madget / D
Judge (controls court room- keeps order, makes sure students talk one-at-a-time) / Garrett Cogar / Pick side for blizzard assignment—no side during trial
Prosecuting Attorney (charging- against) / Josh F./ Payton/ Aaron/ Gina / P
Prosecuting Team / Adam, Jacob, Mia / P
Defense Attorney (defending- on his side) / Bekah Stout/ Maddie/ Haley / D
Defense Team / Bella, Nick L, Nate, Phillip / D
Security/ Order (keeps order, supports judge, directs scenes) / DJ, Adam / Adam- P
DJ- D
N. Europeans Reps (represents area) / Riley, Rose, Emerald, Mia / P
Peasants from Eurasia (reps. area) / Brandy, Riley / P
Russian Representatives (reps. area) / Nick R., Jason / D
Chinese Reps (reps. area) / Brandy, Rose / P
Ottoman Empire Rep. (reps. area) / Caitlin / P
Persian Rep. (reps. area) / Riley, Caitlin / P
Mongol Soldiers (reps soldiers) / Tyler Collins, Blake, Chason, Joe / D
Mongol Citizens (reps empire’s citizens) / Mia, Kayla / D
Mongol Women (reps. Mongol women) / Karley G., Kayla / D
Marco Polo (speaks about discoveries, positives) / Phillip / D
Pope (speaks out unjust acts/ Roman Christian beliefs on situations) / Alex M / P
Jury (decides final) / Burns’ class / Undecided

If you have 2 roles, you only need to write one summary. Your summary for all your opinions will still be for the same team.

*Please see me if you’re doing 2 different “opinions”. Everyone should have only one opinion, and I may have made a mistake.

Team Summaries

Directions: Individually respond to the following prompts. You do not need to use complete sentences, yet do need to finish on a separate sheet of paper.

·  Note:

o  Prosecution team is charging Khan and will answer all negative based questions.

o  Defense team is defending Khan’s conquests and will answer all positive based questions.

Requirements for summary:

·  Complete opening and closing statements (follow prosecution)

·  List reasons to defend opinion

·  Provide examples to support opinion

·  Design questions for (D) roles

·  Defense- Print/ draw map of trade routes between East & West

·  Prosecution- Print/ draw map of conquered areas

1.  Opening--- Summarize opening argument: *3-4 sentences

(Attorney will address court room/ jury and explain what Kahn is guilty, then innocent. Descriptive details will play out during questioning segment.)

2.  Reasons-

Defense-- Why do you believe Genghis Kahn’s conquests were a positive event in the 13th/14th century, and not a crime against humanity?

Prosecution-- Or why do you believe Genghis Khan is guilty of crimes against humanity during his conquests?

3.  Examples- List specific examples that prove Kahn’s conquests were positive or negative:

Positives for defense team, negatives for prosecution team

4.  Closing statements- write a 3-4 sentence paragraph to summarize the closing argument for your team’s opinion. Statements need to be unique and clever, recap team’s argument, and make any final points for jury.

Directions: People (refer to role sheet) you will call to the stand and list question(s) you will be asking summoned personnel:

Write brief questions you’re “side” would ask the following roles. If you are one of these roles, you are still listing the questions/ topics that will be addressed by your team when the witnesses are called to the stand. Students may write on this sheet, and do not need to have complete sentences.

Due: April 25th

“Person” / Brief question(s)/ topics discussed
Eurasian Peasants
Chinese rep
Russian Rep
Ottoman Rep
N. European Rep
Pope
(anyone else you decide to bring to stand)
1.
2.