Notes 

2.2: The Mongols

The Mongols went on to successfully rule over much of Eurasia, with their expansion influencing commerce and communication during the Postclassical era of history. Let’s begin to study their rise to power. 

The Mongols were a nomadic pastoralist clan in the 12th century who would reside in the north of the Gobi desert. The harsh, dry environment they thrived in allowed them to develop a culture that prioritized hunting and warfare. 

It is critical to study the Mongol leader, Genghis Khan, who is often known as Temujin. He rose to power through forming alliances with nearby tribes and was appointed to power on a merit-based basis. 
He would go on to be elected the khan (ruler) of the Mongolian khanate. Under his leadership, the Mongols achieved great military success. 
A characteristic distinct to the Mongols, was their innovative communication system. The Mongols had a separate set of soldiers solely responsible for sending messages via horses, ensuring a sustainable communication network. 
The Mongols would employ their own siege technology, where they would incorporate weapons from the populations they conquered. This led to a diverse supply of weapons, and the Mongols greatly benefited from the diversity of the people they conquered. 

The Mongols went on to establish the capital of Karakorum, and their rule was defined by a period of relative peace, earning the name Pax Mongolica (between the 13th to 14th centuries). 
The Mongols prioritized trade, and thus protected the Silk Roads. As trade channels were being established throughout the world, the Mongols promoted commerce. 
Genghis Khan also embodied religious tolerance, something that was uncommon during the time. 
The Mongols “took” cultural elements of the lands they conquered. Knowledge on printing, medicine and gunpowder went on to proliferate under the Mongol Empire.

After Genghis Khan the remaining Mongol Empire was divided amongst his grandsons:
The Golden Horde was the Mongol Empire lying in modern day Russia. It was led by Batu, who would collect tribute from Russian princes and would cut Russian ties with Western Europe. This led to the creation of a distinct Russian identity. 
The Il-khanate was located in Central Asia and Persia, and was led by Hulegu. He had captured and destroyed Baghdad in 1258, and his khanate eventually converted to Islam.  Here, native Persians were incorporated into the government and would serve as local officials to collect taxes. 
The Yuan dynasty was located in China, and was led by Kublai Khan who had overthrown the previous Song Dynasty.
The Chagatai khanate covered Central Asia. 

The Mongols went on to establish the largest land empire throughout history. Through their landholdings, knowledge such as Greco-Islamic medicine and the Arabic numerical system would spread to Western Europe. Chinese technologies like the printing press and gunpowder also spread throughout the Mongol Empire. 

A negative consequence of the Mongols expansion included the spread of the bubonic plague. The trade routes the Mongols established would spread the Black Death throughout Central Asia and Europe. 

The Mongols were also one of the first to use cannons and siege technology. Previously, most European forces would use walled cities and armoured knights. The superiority of Mongol technology allowed them to dominate over the rest of the world.