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Chinggis Khan led the Mongols from 1206 to 1227.  Historians consider him to have been a military genius, and he conquered the largest contiguous empire in the history of the entire world.   

Chinggis Khan led the Mongols from 1206 to 1227.  Historians consider him to have been a military genius, and he conquered the largest contiguous empire in the history of the entire world.   

In all of history, only the Mongols were able to invade Russia successfully in the wintertime.  The Mongols conquered Russia in 1237, and ruled over it for nearly 250 years, until 1480.  This caused isolation of the Russians from Europe, thereby creating a distrust of Europeans (and Americans) that exists to this day.  Russia suffered economically and intellectually from the Mongol rule, and its citizens were subjected to the status of peasants who could act only as serfs for their protectors among the Russian ruling class, who imposed taxes for the benefit of the Mongols.  Prince Alexander Nevsky, based on his cooperation with the Mongols, became the first prince of Moscow and all of Russia.  The tributes by the Russians to the Mongols did not end until Ivan III of Moscow refused to pay tribute in 1480.  By then the Mongols were too weak to do anything about it.

In all of history, only the Mongols were able to invade Russia successfully in the wintertime.  The Mongols conquered Russia in 1237, and ruled over it for nearly 250 years, until 1480.  This caused isolation of the Russians from Europe, thereby creating a distrust of Europeans (and Americans) that exists to this day.  Russia suffered economically and intellectually from the Mongol rule, and its citizens were subjected to the status of peasants who could act only as serfs for their protectors among the Russian ruling class.  Taxes were imposed taxes for the benefit of the Mongols.  Prince Alexander Nevsky, based on his cooperation with the Mongols, became the first prince of Moscow and all of Russia.  The tributes by the Russians to the Mongols did not end until Ivan III of Moscow refused to pay tribute in 1480.  By then the Mongols were too weak to do anything about it.

In 1231, the Mongols invaded Persia and killed hundreds of thousands of people.  In 1258, the Mongols defeated the Muslims in Baghdad, located in modern-day Iraq.  The Mongols spared Christians in the city but killed the Muslim caliph Abbasid.  Only later did the Mongols themselves convert to Islam.

In 1231, the Mongols invaded Persia and killed hundreds of thousands of people.  In 1258, the Mongols defeated the Muslims in Baghdad, located in modern-day Iraq.  The Mongols spared Christians in the city but killed the Muslim caliph Abbasid.  Only later did the Mongols themselves convert to Islam.

The Mongols enjoyed continued success in China, where Kublai Khan founded the Yuan dynasty beginning in 1260, with its capital in present-day Beijing.  He connected the Huang He River with Beijing by extending the Grand Canal.  He promoted Buddhism and ended mandatory education in the teachings of Confucius.  He allowed freedom of religion.  He installed foreign administrators to manage the vast country.

The Mongols enjoyed continued success in China, where Kublai Khan founded the Yuan dynasty beginning in 1260, with its capital in present-day Beijing.  He connected the Huang He River with Beijing by extending the Grand Canal.  He promoted Buddhism and ended mandatory education in the teachings of Confucius.  He allowed freedom of religion.  He installed foreign administrators to manage the vast country.

But every great conqueror in history has had met its match, the one conquest that it could not do.  Alexander the Great didn’t take India and the Roman empire never conquered Germany.  The Mongols could not conquer Japan.  Twice they tried to cross the waters to reach Japan, in 1274 and 1281.  Each time an intense wind that the Japanese call the “kamikaze” turned back the Mongols.  It was not until World War II that a larger seaborne invasion of Japan was attempted by anyone.  The Mongols were also unable to conquer Cambodia or Vietnam.  The Mongols did control Korea from 1231 to 1350.

But every great conqueror in history has met its match, the one conquest that it could not do.  Alexander the Great didn’t take India and the Roman empire never conquered Germany.  The Mongols could not conquer Japan.  Twice they tried to cross the waters to reach Japan, in 1274 and 1281.  Each time an intense wind that the Japanese call the “kamikaze” turned back the Mongols.  It was not until World War II that a larger seaborne invasion of Japan was attempted by anyone.  The Mongols were also unable to conquer Cambodia or Vietnam.  But the Mongols did control Korea from 1231 to 1350.

The Mongols retained control of the area known as “Eurasia”, which is the region where Europe and Asia meet.  It consists of flat grassland that lacks almost any trees, also called “steppe”.   

The Mongols retained control of the area known as “Eurasia”, which is the region where Europe and Asia meet.  It consists of flat grassland that lacks almost any trees, also called “steppe”.   

From the 1250s to 1350s, there was a period of “Mongol Peace” (“Pax Mongolica,” similar to “Pax Romana”) when traders were not harassed.  Some might say that traders were even protected by the Mongols along the Silk Roads, which were the ancient and medieval trade routes linking the Mediterranean world to China.

From the 1250s to 1350s, there was a period of “Mongol Peace” (“Pax Mongolica,” similar to “Pax Romana”) when traders were not harassed.  Some might say that traders were even protected by the Mongols along the Silk Road (also known as the Silk Routes), which were the old trade routes linking the Mediterranean world to China.

Inflation (weakening of the money) destroyed the Mongol empire, just as it destroyed so many other empires and countries.  The rulers kept printing more money and its value kept declining, until businessmen did not want to use it anymore and the money (and empire) thereby lost its influence.  Persia obtained its independence from the Mongols in 1335.  China rebelled against the worthless money also, ridding themselves of the Mongols in 1369, when the Chinese established their own Ming Dynasty.  But the Mongols remained a constant threat to China into the 1700s.

Inflation (weakening of the money) destroyed the Mongol empire, just as it destroyed so many other empires and countries.  The rulers kept printing more money and its value kept declining, until businessmen did not want to use it anymore and the money (and empire) thereby lost its influence.  Persia obtained its independence from the Mongols in 1335.  China rebelled against the worthless money also, ridding themselves of the Mongols in 1369, when the Chinese established their own Ming Dynasty.  But the Mongols remained a constant threat to China into the 1700s.