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History of The Mighty Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, was the largest contiguous land empire in history. It extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Danube River and the Persian Gulf, covering some 9 million square miles of territory.

Rise of the Mongol Empire

The empire emerged from the unification of several nomadic tribes in the Mongol heartland under the leadership of Temüjin, who is more famously known as Genghis Khan. The empire grew rapidly under his rule and that of his descendants, who sent out invading armies in every direction.

Ilustration of Genghis Khan

The vast transcontinental empire connected the East with the West, and the Pacific to the Mediterranean, in an enforced Pax Mongolica, allowing the exchange of trade, technologies, commodities, and ideologies across Eurasia.

The map of the Mongol Empire at their greatest extent

Fall of the Mongol Empire

However, the empire began to split due to wars over succession, as the grandchildren of Genghis Khan disputed whether the royal line should follow from his son and initial heir Ögedei, or one of his other sons. After Möngke Khan died in 1259, rival kurultai councils simultaneously elected different successors, the brothers Ariq Böke and Kublai Khan, who fought each other in the Toluid Civil War (1260–1264) and also dealt with challenges from the descendants of other sons of Genghis.

By the time of Kublai's death in 1294, the Mongol Empire had fractured into four separate khanates or empires, each pursuing its interests and objectives: the Golden Horde Khanate in the northwest, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, the Ilkhanate in the southwest, and the Yuan dynasty in the east, based in modern-day Beijing.

Mongol empire split into four different khanates

Some of the most famous people from the Mongol Empire:

Genghis Khan (1158-1227): The founder and first Great Khan and Emperor of the Mongol Empire. He is often considered to be the greatest conqueror of all time.

Subutai (1175-1248): The chief military strategist of Genghis Khan and Ögedei Khan. He is known for his sophisticated and coordinated movements, which helped him conquer 32 nations and win 65 battles.

Kublai Khan (1215-1294): The fifth khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty in China. He played an important role in re-creating a militarily powerful China.

Ogedei Khan (1186-1241): The second Khagan of the Mongol Empire who continued the expansion of the empire.

Möngke Khan (1209-1259): The fourth khagan of the Mongol Empire. Under his reign, the empire conquered Syria and Iraq and had conflicts with the Delhi Sultanate of India.

Hulagu Khan (1217-1265): Grandson of Genghis Khan, he expanded the Mongol empire as ordered by Mangu Khan.

Illustration of Hulagu Khan

Mongolians crushed the Baghdad City

The Mongols, under the command of Hulagu Khan, besieged Baghdad for 13 days, from 29 January to 10 February 1258. The siege was part of the Mongol invasions and conquests. Despite the Abbasids' failure to prepare for the invasion, the Caliph Al-Musta'sim believed that Baghdad could not fall to invading forces and refused to surrender. Hulagu subsequently besieged the city, which surrendered after 12 days.

During the next week, the Mongols sacked Baghdad, committing numerous atrocities. Historians are uncertain about the level of destruction of library books and the Abbasids' vast libraries. The Mongols executed Al-Musta'sim and massacred many residents of the city, which was left greatly depopulated. The siege marked the end of the Islamic Golden Age. Read more about the Islamic Golden Age HERE.

Illustration of the Siege of Baghdad (1258)

Once the city's walls fell, the Mongols rushed in and collected mountains of silver, gold, and jewels. Hundreds of thousands of Baghdadis died, slaughtered by Hulagu's troops or their Georgian allies. Books from the Bayt al-Hikmah, or House of Wisdom, were thrown into the Tigris.

Tigris, Baghdad in modern days

The Mongols believed that spilling royal blood could cause natural disasters like earthquakes. Just to be safe, they wrapped Mustasim in a carpet and rode their horses over him, trampling him to death. The fall of Baghdad signalled the end of the Abbasid Caliphate. It was also the high point of Mongol conquest in the Middle East.

Battle of Ain Jalut: End of Mongolians' hegemony

The Mongols were defeated in the region of Sham (modern-day Syria) in the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. This battle was fought between the Mongols and the Mamluks, who were an army of former slaves.

The Mongols, under the command of Kitbuqa, had been expanding westward after sacking Baghdad in 1258. However, when Hulagu Khan, the leader of the Mongol Empire, had to return to Mongolia for a kurultai (a political and military council), he left Kitbuqa in charge of the remaining forces.

The Mamluks, learning of these developments, quickly advanced their army from Cairo towards Palestine. Kitbuqa sacked Sidon, before turning his army south towards the Spring of Harod to meet the Mamluk forces.

The Mamluks used hit-and-run tactics and a feigned retreat by their general Baibars, combined with a final flanking manoeuvre by Qutuz, which forced the Mongol army to retreat toward Bisan. In the ensuing counterattack, many Mongols were killed, including Kitbuqa.

Illustration of the Battle of Ain Jalut

The defeat at Ain Jalut marked the first time the Mongols were permanently prevented from expanding their influence. It also marked the beginning of the end of the westward expansion of the Mongol Empire. The Mongols were also defeated in the second Battle of Homs, Elbistan, and Marj al-Saffar. After five battles with the Mamluks, the Mongols only won at the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar.

The Mongol Empire could be large and mighty. However, we need to remember that being mighty is not being cruel and bloodthirsty. The Mongol Empire were an example for us that being mighty without unity and peace is nothing but massacre and division. Unity in diversity and peace are things to reach a mighty golden age, as the Abbasids did and showed us in history.




Source: 
(2) These Are the Slave Soldiers That Defeated the Mongols. https://www.military.com/history/2022/01/13/these-are-slave-soldiers-defeated-mongols.html.
(3) Kitbuqa - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitbuqa.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/4/2023
(1) Siege of Baghdad (1258) - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Baghdad_%281258%29.
(2) How the Mongols Took Over Baghdad in 1258 - ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-mongol-siege-of-baghdad-1258-195801.
(3) Why Did the Mongols Destroy Baghdad in 1258? | RallyPoint. https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/why-did-the-mongols-destroy-baghdad-in-1258.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/4/2023
(1) Mongol empire | Time Period, Map, Location, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mongol-empire.
(2) 23 Interesting Facts About The Mongol Empire - OhFact!. https://ohfact.com/interesting-facts-mongol-empire/.
(3) Mongols—facts and information - National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/mongols.
(4) Mongol empire - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Mongol-Empire/353483.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/4/2023
(1) Famous People From Mongolia. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/mongolia.php.
(2) Mongol Empire | Key People | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Key-People-of-the-Mongol-Empire.
(3) Genghis Khan & the Mongol Empire - World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/67/genghis-khan--the-mongol-empire/.
(4) The Greatest Mongolian Emperors & Kings - Famous People in the World. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/mongolian-emperors-kings.php.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/4/2023
(1) Mongol empire | Time Period, Map, Location, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mongol-empire.
(2) Mongol Empire - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Empire.
(3) Mongol Empire - World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Mongol_Empire/.
(1) Battle of Ain Jalut - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ain_Jalut.

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