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Period: 1115 to 1234
Jurchens (Jin dynasty) rule north China
The Jin dynasty ruled Inner Mongolia, northern China, and Manchuria. Their capital city was Zhongdu which is presently Bejing. This is all significant because this empire would be the first the Mongols would attack, led by Khan, and anyone that resisted this attack was brutally murdered. -
1206
Temujin takes the name of Chinggis Khan; Mongol state founded
Temujin is elected as the khan over all of the Mongolian Empire in 1206 after building a great and powerful reputation of being a leader and warrior. Khan would bring the Mongol state to power, and they would conquer civilizations wherever they went, spreading across Asia which is why his election was so significant. -
1215
First Mongol attacks on north China; Bejing captured
The Mongols first attacked the Tangut kingdom of Xi Xia and then the Jin Empire. Both of these cities were heavily fortified and the Mongols had to adapt and build an arsenal of siege weapons to defeat these empires. They showed little sympathy for civilizations although they did often spare famous scholars. This is important because it marked the beginning of the Mongolian conquest. -
1227
Death of Chinggis Khan; Ogedei named successor
Chinggis Khan died fighting the Tangut Empire in 1227. His third and favorite son Ogedei was named as the successor and was officially elected in 1229. This was significant because even after the death of Khan, the empire was still able to expand and conquer under different leaders. -
Period: 1236 to 1240
Mongol conquest of Russia
The Golden Horde, led by Batu, began their conquest of Russia in 1236 and carried out the only successful winter invasion in Russian history. The armies defeated kingdom after kingdom and utterly destroyed every person who resisted. For a while, Russia thought Kiev would be spared, but it was then destroyed and looted in 1240. These events were significant because the presence of Mongols in Russia cut them off from European ties and forced them to have a more district culture. -
1258
Mongol destruction of Baghdad
The Mongols, led by Hulegu, assaulted the Islamic heartlands and captured and destroyed Baghdad. This was very significant because it would bring about the end of the well established Abbasid empire, and it is said that 800,000 people were killed from the attack, along with the caliph. -
Period: 1271 to 1368
Reign of the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty in China
The Yuan Dynasty was founded in 1271 after the song Dynasty was conquered by Khan's grandson Kublai Khan. This dynasty was important because it would bring China prosperity and improvements in trade, although there was a division between the Mongolians and Chinese. This would lead to a revolt in 1368 that would bring an end to the Dynasty. -
Period: 1271 to 1295
Journey of Marco Polo to central Asia, China, and southeast Asia
Marco Polo lived and worked in Kublai Khan's empire in China for 17 years. During his time there he wrote an account of his experiences and the custom and traditions of the Chinese. This account may be the most famous of a European traveler, and his tales sparked interest in the Europeans to learn more about the Asian culture. It was also important because it inspired travelers such as Christopher Columbus to find a sea route to Asia. -
Period: 1274 to 1280
Failed Mongol invasions of Japan
The Mongols were sent of expeditions to Japan and other nearby countries and were defeated in 1274 and 1280 by the military lords of Japan. These defeats were significant because it signified that the power of the military was weakening, and it also placed a big role in the decline fo the Mongol Empire. -
Period: 1336 to 1405
Life of Timur
Timur was the leader of the Turkish nomads that would bring about the second nomadic outburst. Timur and his armies went on conquests to India, southern Russia, and the Fertile Cresent, and while their empire was not as large as the Mongols, their campaigns were much more violent. Timur was highly cultured, but also very barbaric at the same time, and did things such as build pyramids of human skill after the conquests. This all ended in 1405 after his death.
