Mongol Expansion and Genghis Khan

A vast, grassy plain that stretched from the Black Sea to northern China.

Nomadic groups of related families, often found in the Mongol culture.

The Mongol leader who united the Mongol tribes in 1206.

A vast desert that covers parts of Mongolia and China.

Moveable tents used by the Mongols for shelter.

One of the major trading cities during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, located on a large natural harbor in southeast China. It was founded by the Tang Dynasty in the 700s.

Emperors of the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties designated Quanzhou as a city that could trade directly with foreign merchants. This strategy benefited the emperors through taxes on foreign goods.

The Mongols encouraged cultural exchange between the Chinese, Mongols, and foreign merchants. This led to a diverse community in Quanzhou with various religions like Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

Mongol emperors, in the 1400s and 1500s, implemented bans on sea trade as a result of various factors. This led to the decline of Quanzhou as a major trade city.

The Mongols launched two attempts to invade Japan using a large fleet of ships. However, huge storms destroyed most of the fleet, resulting in the failure of both attempts.

Genghis Khan created a new legal code for the Mongols, which organized the society and helped to maintain order within the vast empire.

Genghis Khan formed a council of clan chiefs to assist him in planning military campaigns, which allowed him to efficiently command a large and diverse army.

Genghis Khan's army consisted of trained warriors divided into groups called 'unts,' which were further organized under the command of skilled officers.

Mongol soldiers were highly skilled in warfare, using their knowledge of the steppes and their superior tactics to dominate other armies throughout Asia.

The Mongol conquests brought tribute money to the Mongol treasury, which further solidified their power and allowed them to expand their empire.

The Mongols' military successes attracted new recruits to their army, increasing their strength and allowing them to conquer vast territories.

The Mongols eventually gained enough power to attack major civilizations, including China and other kingdoms along the Silk Road.

Genghis Khan and his warriors were known for their brutality and use of terror, which often resulted in the sacking and destruction of cities.

The Mongol Empire, after Genghis Khan's death, was divided into four major territories called Khanates, each ruled by one of his descendants.

The Golden Horde, a Khanate led by Batu, Genghis Khan's grandson, expanded into Eastern and Central Europe, spreading Mongol influence across a vast region.

The Il-Khanate, led by Hulagu, another of Genghis Khan's grandsons, conquered Muslim kingdoms in the Middle East, capturing Baghdad and advancing into Syria and Palestine.

Kublai Khan, another of Genghis Khan's grandsons, focused on conquering all of China, eventually establishing the Yuan Dynasty and becoming Emperor of China.

The Mongol Empire spanned from the Pacific Ocean in the east to Eastern Europe in the west, from Siberia in the north to the Himalayas in the south, making it the largest continuous land empire in history.

The Mongols brought stability to the lands they conquered, encouraging trade and closer contact between Asia and Europe.

The Mongols were often tolerant of different religions and cultures within their empire, even adopting some customs and beliefs from the people they conquered.

The Mongols learned some technologies from the Chinese, including gunpowder and the fire lance, which made them even more formidable in warfare.