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.
ule significantly impacted the culture of many people, so it is impossible not to agree that Genghis Khan was the man who changed this world. What were the great conqueror’s miscalculations that led
urvive on their own in the steppe.
rs, he kills his older half-brother and saves his wife from the massacre. Soon, Temujin managed to destroy the warring leaders of several Mongolian tribes, gather their warriors around him, and make them loyal followers. At the same time,
slavement of his fellow men.
olia that Genghis Khan decided to conquer was China. Still, before his conquest, the Mongol ruler decided to secure the eastern border by capturing the Tangut kingdom of Xi Xia, which was located between
pped for a while, waiting out the unbearable heat, and then moved with his army to China. After the capture of the Jin dynasty, Khanate of Khiva in Turke
is Khan was sincerely convinced that he was a follower of tengrism and destined
separate entities – the Jin Dynasty and the Song Empire, the Mongols were able to win over some Jin warriors to their side.
f the Mongolian army. Genghis Khan’s well-organized warriors extensively used cavalry, which could move rapidly and devastatingly affect the enemy in open terrain.
ered territories were left without a population due to the brutal massacre and expulsion of crowds of people fleeing from the advancing Mongol troops.
e overgrowth of trees. The scale of the devastation of the lands conquered by t
connecting these territories through mounted messengers, they provided relatively fast communication. It also contributed to the development of trade, which was the driving force behind the Mongol conquests.
ce and stability within the Mongol Empire that lasted between 1279 and 1368. However, this peace was paid for by a period of long and bloody wars. The oft-quoted statistic that Genghis Khan is responsible for 40 million deaths downplays the scale of destruction caused by the Mongol conquests, which reduced the world’s population by 11% and destroyed entire cultures.
he Mongol Empire over time.
n depended on the circumstances that led to the territory’s annexation. Those who surrendered voluntarily had more freedom and could expect better treatment.
father’s death, Ogodei further expanded the empire and strengthened control over the conquered lands, but soon, he was overtaken by drunkenness. He died 14 years after Genghis Khan’s death.
d damage the empire, Guyuk also died.
her son Mongke. Under him, the Mongols took Baghdad, established territory in the Mediterranean, and removed all his competitors from the family.
ur-year civil war for the throne, which ended with Kublai’s victory. However, he was never elected by the council of nobles, which made his position suspicious among the Mongols even af
foreign rule, but his extravagance was resented. He continued his attempts at conquest, which did not bring new territories to the Mongol Empire, and some turned into real disasters for the Mongols.
in world history and brought the fall of the Mongol Empire closer.
ivalry between Mongolian leaders. In China, where the Kublai dynasty had the strongest base, the native Chinese culture began to influence the resistance of the Mongols. The
the Mongol Empire fell apart. The most stable
scendants were influenced by Chinese culture, the descendants of Batu were influenced by the Turkic and Islamic peoples they ruled.
ring the 1400s.