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Dec 12, 1162
Temujin is born
Temujin, the son of a Mongol Chieftain, was born in this year. This is important because Temujin would later become the Genghis Khan. -
Nov 10, 1206
Mongol Empire Begins
Temujin (1165-1227) unified the tribes of Mongolia into one super tribe known as the All Mongol State. This was important because this was the start of one of the greatest empire ever in the history of Earth. -
Dec 12, 1207
Genghis Khan expands the Empire
Genghis Khan was pressured because he was scarce in food, so he attacks the kingdom of Xi Xia. After two years he forces it to surrender. This is important because he expanded his empire. -
Dec 12, 1219
Genghis Khan invades the Khwarzin Empire
In 1219, he leads an army of 200000 against the Khwarzin dynasty because the emperor refused to cooperate. -
Dec 12, 1221
Pax Mongolica Begins
The trade centers of China and Europe are connected under Mongol Rule, allowing safe passage. This is important because it allowed cultural diffusion in these parts of the world. -
Dec 12, 1221
The Mongols destroy the Tangut Dynasty of Xi Xia.
Though subjugated under the Mongols, the Tangut Dynasty of Xi Xia refuses to lend military support to the campaign against the Khwarzin Dynasty, instead going into open rebellion. After defeating the Khwarzins, Genghis Khan immediately takes his army back to Xi Xia and begins a string of victories over the Tanguts. This is important because after victory, he orders the execution of the Tanguts, thereby putting an end to their dynasty. -
Dec 12, 1227
Genghis Khan Dies
Before his death, he bestows leadership to his third son, Ogedai. His younger brother, Tolui, holds regency until the formal election. This is important because once Ogedai comes to power, he immediately begins to expand and fortify the empire. -
Dec 12, 1230
War Against the Jin Dynasty Begins
Ogedai personally leads his army against the Jin dynasty. His general, Subutai, Emperor Wanyan's capital city, Kaifeng. This is important because it expanded the empire. -
Dec 12, 1241
Ogedai Dies
Ogedei dies, which forces Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson, to withdraw his invasion of Europe, which had reached Rome. Batu Khan is forced to return for the kurultai to select Ogedei's successor but he refuses. This is important because a four-year stalemate occurs after. -
Dec 12, 1246
Guyuk is elected Great Khan
Due to a threat from Genghis Khan's youngest brother, Temuge, Batu finally allies with Guyuk and allows his forces to attend the kurultai, which elects Guyuk as the next Great Khan. This is important because this is the start of a new emperor's rule. -
Dec 12, 1248
Mongke Khan Succeeds as a Ruler
In 1248, Guyuk gathers troops to march westwards, but he dies before battle begins. His rival Batu calls a kurultai in his own territory, which his rivals refuse to attend, and he nominates Mongke, a grandson of Genghis Khan. Mongke comes to power and institutes a bloody purge of the Ogedei line. This is important because it causes a division in the empire between the descendants of Ogedei on one side and Mongke and the descendants of Genghis's other son, Tolui. -
Dec 12, 1258
Baghdad is Captured
Under the leadership of Hulagu Khan, Baghdad is besieged and captured in 1258. This is important because this represents the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate and opens the way for further conquest into the Middle East -
Aug 11, 1259
Mongke Khan Dies
Mongke Khan, leading an army to complete the invasion of China, is forced to stay through the hot summer due to the protracted campaign. Disease spreads among the army, and Mongke catches it and dies. This is important because they must elect another emperor. -
Aug 21, 1264
Kublai Khan Becomes the Great Khan
After a protracted civil war, Ariqboqe surrenders to Kublai Khan at Shangdu. This solidifies Kublai Khan's power and allows him to once again begin campaigns of conquest. He finally defeats the Song Dynasty in southern China and puts his own regime in place, called the Yuan. This is important because it makes the Mongols the first non-Chinese people to conquer all of China. -
The Ming Dynasty reclaims China and the Mongol Empire ends.
After Kublai Khan, the Mongols disintegrate into competing entities and lose influence, in part due to the outbreak of the Black Death. In 1368, the Ming Dynasty overthrows the Yuan, the Mongols' ruling power. This is important because it signified the end of the empire.
