Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was a vast Eurasian empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1206.

The Mongol Empire was a vast Eurasian empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. At its peak it became the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Its successors eventually fragmented into separate khanates, and the empire was gone by the late 14th century.

Origins and expansion

The Mongol Empire began when Temüjin united the Mongol tribes and was proclaimed Genghis Khan in 1206. Under him and his successors, Mongol armies expanded rapidly across China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

Government and society

Mongol rule was organized around a military-political elite headed by the Great Khan, with separate khanates later governing different regions. The empire is also associated with religious tolerance in some periods, support for trade, and long-distance communication systems.

Peak and legacy

By the late 13th century, the empire stretched across much of Eurasia and controlled the largest contiguous territory in history. Its routes and institutions helped move goods, ideas, technologies, and people across the continent.

Decline and fragmentation

After internal succession disputes and regional autonomy increased, the empire split into several khanates. The Yuan dynasty in China fell in 1368, marking the end of the last major Mongol-ruled imperial center.