What did the great conqueror Genghis Khan miscalculate, and Why did the Mongol Empire fall
In 1995, The Washington Post called Genghis Khan the “man of the millennium.” Of course, this was a controversial choice because his conquests led to the death of millions of people and the devastation of many cities. Still, they united vast territories, allowing trade to flourish on the Silk Road, thus connecting East and West.
han was the man who changed this world. What were the great conqueror’s miscalculations that led to the fall of the mighty Mongol Empire?
s father when the boy turned 10 years old, and his mother, brothers, and sisters were expelled from their tribe and had to survive on their own in the steppe.
he former tribe members, he kills his older half-brother and saves his wife from the massacre. Soon, Temujin managed to destroy the warring le
writing system and organizing a population census. He also sought to end any strife between the Mongols by abolishing disputed hereditary titles of nobility and ending the enslavement of his f
territory outside the steppes of Mongolia that Genghis Khan decided to conquer was China. Still, before his conquest, the
ty, Khanate of Khiva in Turkestan followed.
grism and destined to rule the world. Driven by a divine purpose, he believed in his chosen one. But his imperial ambitions were probably fueled by other goals, including plundering conquered territories, controlling lucrative trade routes, and taking revenge on personal enemies.
eir side.
ely used cavalry, which could move rapidly and devastatingly affect the enemy in open terrain.
the Mongols always offered their enemies a choice: voluntary surrender or complete devastation. Vi
lions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
he ruler’s authority. After Genghis Khan’s death, the Mongols quickly adapted to governance. By connecting these territories through mounted messengers, they provided relatively fast communication. It also contributed to the development of tr
ruction caused by the Mongol conquests, which reduced the world’s population by 11% and destroyed entire cultures.
ate Chinese, Persian, and Asian states united by Genghis Khan’s empire. If the Mongols tried to impose their culture without considering local traditions in the early periods of
ns. The extent of the tribute and the treatment of the local population depended on the circumstances that led to the territory’s annexation. Those who surrendered voluntarily had more freedom and could expect better treatment.
ei, as his successor. His contemporaries described him as a harsh and emotional man. After his father’s death, Ogodei further expanded the empire and strengthened control over t
a fierce struggle between the branches of the Ogedei and Batu families, but before the tension grew so great that it could damage the empire, Guyuk also died.
him, the Mongols took Baghdad, established territory in the Mediterranean, and removed all his competitors from the family.
e became the great Khan.
ls.
ure Japan on the orders of Kublai. Both times, typhoons saved Jap
The Mongol nobility and Chinese farmers became increasingly hostile to each other. The danger of rebellion grew, and by 1368, the Yuan Dynasty supplanted the Ming Dynasty.
Jochi significantly expanded these possessions.
influenced by Chinese culture, the descendants of Batu were influenced by the Turkic and Islamic peoples they ruled.
y defeats from Russia, breaking into several smaller states during the 1400s.