1. The Mongol Empire By Marina Daniels and Allen Caldwell

2.  Genghis Khan died and his successors continued to expand his empire.  Mongols began conquering territory from China to Poland.  They created the largest unified land empire in history.

3. Khanates  Mongols decided to divide their huge empire into four regions called khanates.  Khanate of the Great Khan (Mongolia and China  Khanate of Chagatai (Central Asia)  The Ilkhanate (Persia)  Khanate of the Golden Horde (Russia)  A descendent of Genghis ruled each khanate.

4. Mongols as Rulers  As they invaded, the populations of some cities Mongols went to were wiped out. They ended up destroying ancient irrigation systems also.  Mongols were known to be ferocious in war, but tolerant in peace.  The Mongols had religious tolerance  Some of the Mongol rulers even adopted aspects of the culture of the people they ruled.  Ex: The Ilkhanas and Golden Horde became Muslims because of who they were ruling.  They had many different religions throughout the whole empire.

5. Mongol Peace  The Mongols imposed stability and law and order across most of Eurasia. This was known as Pax Mongolica (Mongol peace)  They guaranteed safe passage for trade caravans, travelers, and missionaries from one empire to another.  Trade with Asia and Europe had never been easier and more active.  Mongols were the lords of city-based civilizations across Asia and China.

6. Kublai Khan  Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan.  He decided to focus on extending the power and range of his own khanate and began trying to conquer all of China like his grandfather had previously done.

7. A new Dynasty  Kublai Khan created the Yuan dynasty and united China for the first time in more than 300 years.  The control imposed by the Mongols across all of Asia opened China to greater foreign contacts and trade.  Kublai decided to abandon the Mongolian steppes for China.  He tried to extend his rule to Japan but both times he tried the Japanese turned back the Mongol fleets and a typhoon ended the attempts.

8. Foreign Trade and The Mongols and the Chinese  Mongols lived apart from Chinese and followed different laws.  They wanted to keep Chinese out of high government offices, but let some Chinese serve on a local level.  Kublai Khan increased trade largely due to the Mongol Peace  Travel routes were more safe now for trade and travel.  Kublai encouraged trade by inviting foreign merchants to visit China

9. Mongolian Women  Women had more power and more of an influence  Men would marry many women at one time, which was called polygamy  They had much freedom and worked either in the house or out in society

10. Mongol Empire declines  Trying to further expand the empire Kublai sent many expeditions to Southeast Asia but his armies suffered many humiliating defeats.  After Kublai died the Yuan dynasty was fading.  Rebellions were breaking out since the Chinese had resented the Mongols for such a long time  Chinese rebels finally overthrew the Mongols  Soon the Mongol Empire had disintegrated and only the Golden Horde stayed in power.