Mongols

As spectacular as its creation was, the fall of the Mongol Empire was just as remarkable. Its descent into chaos was signaled by inter-family rebellion across the four khanates established by Genghis Khan. As weaker Mongol leaders struggled to retain control, drought, flood, famine, and the bubonic plague eventually contributed to the collapse of each khanate. As this volume amply demonstrates, though the Mongols were fierce warriors, their legacy also includes a culture of honor and discipline, centralized government structure, trade promotion and communication routes, and religious tolerance-all of which helped spread wealth, information, and technology across two continents.

Contrary to popular portrayal, the Mongols were not simply bloodthirsty barbarians cutting a swath of destruction across the eastern world. They were ruthless in war, but they were also a well-organized military force whose leadership excelled at strategy and military innovation. This examination of Mongol military prowess dives into their greatest conquests across Eurasia, their advances in both military and civilian technology, and their political leadership in managing conquered peoples of different cultures and traditions.

Though most often remembered as one of the most brutal military conquerors of all time, Mongol leader Genghis Khan also introduced many enlightened methods of ruling, laws, and government systems that are still used today. From his childhood on the Mongolian steppe to his election as khan, Genghis Khan went on to establish an empire that stretched across Eurasia and that was held together through law and order. This resource will examine his life, his rule, and his legacy in today's world.

Under Kublai Khan, the Mongols conquered the Southern Song Dynasty and established rule over China. The ensuing Yuan Dynasty, though in power for less than a century, was notable for its blending of Mongol and Chinese culture in drama, music, and painting, as well as government reform and public-works projects. In this riveting account, readers will learn about daily life in the Yuan Dynasty for both the upper classes and the common people, and they will join Kublai Khan on some of his ill-fated later invasion attempts.

Stretching across Asia and into eastern Europe and northern Africa, the Silk Road opened the world to new ideas, products, and cultures. Because the Mongols controlled so much of the territory across this network of pathways, trade between east and west flourished, spreading silk, spices, technology, and languages. In addition, the Mongols were known for their different religious traditions, including Buddhism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism, which were also "transported" along the established pathways of trade. While traveling throughout the network could be treacherous, its cross-cultural exchange paved the way for modern globalization. This vivid and lively account places sets readers on a wondrous journey of discovery along the Silk Road.

The outermost khanate of the Mongol Empire was the Golden Horde, which conquered the Rus' in northwestern Russia in the thirteenth century and continued to rule there in some capacity until the Russian Empire annexed Crimea, the khanate's last holdout, in 1783. Despite vast cultural and geographic differences between Rus' and the Mongols' traditional homeland on the steppes of Central Asia, the Golden Horde flourished, with Moscow becoming the dominant principality. This fascinating and little-known history is related in thrilling, panoramic narrative detail and includes profiles of Rus' leaders such as Alexander Nevsky and Daniel of Moscow.

Grandson of the feared Mongol warlord Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan inherited a vast empire and then doubled its size. This biography examines how Kublai's childhood influenced his later embrace of Chinese culture as emperor of China. After defeating his brother Ariq Böke in the Toluid Civil War, Kublai became Great Khan. Thanks to the stability of his rule and the sponsorship of his administration, the Mongol Empire saw economic, social, and cultural advancements that were well ahead of much of the world.