MONGOLIA - Summary

In the Century of the Stirrup, the Eurasian landmass was transformed by the emergence of a new force in history: the Mongols. Genghis Khan founded an empire that would eventually stretch from China to the Middle East, blocked only by the Mamluks in Egypt. While regular caravan travel between China and Mongolia began in 101 B.C.E., after the creation of the Mongolian Empire the trails connecting the East to the West became safe to travel. As the "Silk Road" flourished, Chinese knowledge flowed westward, stimulating new approaches to science and religion.

Genghis Khan grew up among the Mongols, then rose quickly to prominence, proving himself to be an extraordinary leader. He quickly dominated the tribes of Central Asia and then went on to conquer parts of Northern China and the Islamic world. He used terror tactics to scare people into submission, sparing only skilled artisans if a town failed to surrender. Once a land was conquered, however, the Mongols were very tolerant rulers, allowing other faiths and traditions to continue. The method of Genghis Kahn's leadership was so strong that the army and empire he founded continued to grow after his death.