Rise and Fall of the Mongol Empire
The Rise of the Mongol Empire
The Mongols came into power and by their military power and the strategies that they incorporated when they were on the battlefield.(For the specific tactics click the button) The Mongols also incorporated the people that they conquered into their ranks, which were instrumental to their success on the field.(1) The Mongols also may have been able to rise to power because the rest of Asia was declining at this point in time. China was in three separate sections that were all at war with each other. Central Asia was fragmented and there was no single leader, Russia was only several city-states.(2) With all these great powers divided and weak, the Mongols were able to come in and conquer Asia.
Chinggis Khan
Chinggis Khan was born(1163) with the name Temujin.(3) Temujin's grandfather died and his tribe rejected a boy leader, so his family and him were left for dead. However, he did not die.(4) Temujin became the leader of a sub-clan when he was twenty-years old, where he consolidated his power. By 1196 he was the leader of the Borjigin Mongols.(5) By 1206 Temujin was proclaimed leader of all of the Mongol tribes and united them. It was then he was given the name Chinggis Khan.
Chinggis Khan proved to be a military genius, and he trained and led the Mongol armies into three main battles that contributed to his conquering China: Tanguts, Jin, and Central Asia.(6) He guided his armies through the walled cities and made a barbaric reputation of him and his army. (7) |
The Fall of the Mongol Empire
The Mongol empire started to finally collapse by 1260 C.E. It started to collapse because Ogodei, the Great Khan had died and a new leader had to be chosen. But there were many disputes over who the next great Khan should be from Chinggis Khan's bloodline.(8)
Eventually the empire was split into four separate regions, each ruled by a single individual. One of the sectors was ruled by Khubilai Khan, the grandson of Chinggis Khan. This region included China, Mongolia, Korea, and Tibet.(9) The second section was central Asia, the third was called the Ilkhanids which was ruled by Hulegu, Kubilai's brother. The final was called the Golden Horde.(10) The first and second sections would be in conflict with one another and so would the third and fourth.(11)
Eventually the empire was split into four separate regions, each ruled by a single individual. One of the sectors was ruled by Khubilai Khan, the grandson of Chinggis Khan. This region included China, Mongolia, Korea, and Tibet.(9) The second section was central Asia, the third was called the Ilkhanids which was ruled by Hulegu, Kubilai's brother. The final was called the Golden Horde.(10) The first and second sections would be in conflict with one another and so would the third and fourth.(11)
The Great Khan, also known as Kubilai Khan (grandson of Chinggis Khan) and the Chaghadai was the second region mentioned.
Footnotes:
1. Columbia University, “The Mongols in World History,” Asia for Educators, 9. Accessed November 16, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf.
2. Ibid.
3. Robert L. Worden and Andrea Matles Savada, editors, “The Era of Chinggis Khan, 1206-7,”Mongolia: A Country Study. (Washington, GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989). Accessed November 16, 2014. http://countrystudies.us/mongolia/10.htm
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Chauncy D. Harris, “Mongolia: Rise of Genghis Khan,” (Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2014) Accessed November 16, 2014.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/389335/Mongolia/27421/The-rise-of-Genghis-Khan
7. Ibid.
8. Columbia University, 9. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf.
9. Ibid.
1. Columbia University, “The Mongols in World History,” Asia for Educators, 9. Accessed November 16, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf.
2. Ibid.
3. Robert L. Worden and Andrea Matles Savada, editors, “The Era of Chinggis Khan, 1206-7,”Mongolia: A Country Study. (Washington, GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989). Accessed November 16, 2014. http://countrystudies.us/mongolia/10.htm
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Chauncy D. Harris, “Mongolia: Rise of Genghis Khan,” (Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2014) Accessed November 16, 2014.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/389335/Mongolia/27421/The-rise-of-Genghis-Khan
7. Ibid.
8. Columbia University, 9. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf.
9. Ibid.
By Stefan Mihai