mongol empire

Temujin is born

1162

Temujin, a Mongol chieftain's son, is born. Borte, his first wife, is taken by the Merkits, a rival tribe, and he marries her. To release Borte, Temujin unites warring tribes under his reign. He goes on to vanquish other tribes after conquering the Merkits and liberating her. He implements policies that benefit his soldiers rather than the aristocracy, but this puts him at odds with his uncles, who are vying for the throne.

Temujin is born

1162

Temujin, a Mongol chieftain's son, is born. Borte, his first wife, is taken by the Merkits, a rival tribe, and he marries her. To release Borte, Temujin unites warring tribes under his reign. He goes on to vanquish other tribes after conquering the Merkits and liberating her. He implements policies that benefit his soldiers rather than the aristocracy, but this puts him at odds with his uncles, who are vying for the throne.

Temujin assumes the title of Genghis Khan.

1206

At the kurultai (tribal assembly), Temujin becomes the ruler of the Ikh Mongol Uls and takes the name Genghis Khan, which means "universal leader."

Temujin assumes the title of Genghis Khan

1206

At the kurultai (tribal assembly), Temujin becomes the ruler of the Ikh Mongol Uls and takes the name Genghis Khan, which means "universal leader."

Genghis Khan expands the empire

1207

Khan attacks the kingdom of Xi Xia, compelled by spiritual desires and a lack of food, and forces it to surrender after two years. Genghis Khan, enthralled by the magnificent rice fields of Northern China, invade the Jin Dynasty and begins a twenty-year battle.

Genghis Khan invades the Khwarzin Dynasty

1219

In response to the Khwarzin Dynasty's failure to cooperate, Khan leads an army of 200,000 Mongol soldiers against them in 1219. The Mongols invaded every city they came across with ruthlessness, slaughtering or enslaving everyone they met.

The Pax Mongolica begins

1221

The Mongols conquer the Khwarzin Dynasty and take control of their lands. This is the start of the Pax Mongolica, in which Mongol control connects China's and Europe's commerce centers, providing for safe transit. Yassa, a Mongol law, promotes peace in the empire by prohibiting blood feuds, adultery, theft, bearing false testimony, and environmental damage. Religious freedom is also allowed under the Yassa.

The Mongols destroy the Tangut Dynasty of Xi Xia

1221

The Tangut Dynasty of Xi Xia, despite being conquered by the Mongols, refuses to offer military support to the campaign against the Khwarzin Dynasty, instead declaring open revolt. Genghis Khan returns to Xi Xia with his army after defeating the Khwarzins and begins a streak of victories over the Tanguts. Following his triumph, he orders the Tanguts' execution, effectively ending their reign.

Mongke Khan succeeds as ruler

1248

Guyuk collects troops to march west from Karakorum in 1248, but he dies before the combat starts. His enemy Batu holds a kurultai in his own area, which his opponents refuse to attend, and nominates Mongke, Genghis Khan's grandson. The empire is split between the descendants of Ogedei on one side and Mongke and the descendants of Genghis' second son, Tolui, on the other. When Mongke takes power, he begins a brutal purge of the Ogedei line.

Baghdad is captured

1258

Baghdad is besieged and taken in 1258 under the leadership of Hulagu Khan. This marks the end of the Abbasid Caliphate and the beginning of future Middle Eastern conquest.

Mongke Khan dies

Aug 11, 1259

Due to the protracted campaign, Mongke Khan, who is commanding an army to complete the invasion of China, is obliged to stay during the sweltering summer. The army contracts the disease, and Mongke succumbs to it. The Mongol soldiers are once again obliged to retire from conquests in order to return for a second kurultai to choose succession, weakening their tactical positions. This sparks a civil war between Ariqboqe Khan and Kublai Khan over the succession rights.

Kublai Khan becomes the Great Khan

Aug 21, 1264

Ariqboqe surrenders to Kublai Khan at Shangdu after a long civil war. This strengthens Kublai Khan's position and allows him to resume conquest expeditions. He finally defeats the Song Dynasty in southern China and establishes the Yuan, making the Mongols the first non-Chinese people to conquer the entire country.

The Ming Dynasty reclaims China and the Mongol Empire ends

1368

Due to the outbreak of the Black Death, the Mongols fracture into competing organizations and lose influence after Kublai Khan. The Yuan, the Mongols' reigning power, is overthrown by the Ming Dynasty in 1368, signaling the end of the empire.