Mongol Empire Research Paper

The Mongol Empire extended from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1206, the Temujin Khan led Mongols out from the Mongolian steppes to conquer Eurasia. He developed an elaborate political network to rule his vast empire. Beforehand, he amassed his following by uniting Mongolia’s plethora of clans. And used his military might to sweep across Eurasia. When Genghis Khan died in 1227, his four sons redistributed the territory into four distinct khanates (regions). By 1279, Genghis Khan’s grandson Kublai Khan, the third Great Khan of the Mongol Empire conquered China’s Song Dynasty. In its place, he established the Yuan Dynasty, translating to the origin of the universe. Despite a reputation as the territory

During Genghis Khan's lifetime, most Mongols practiced Shamanism, an all-encompassing spiritual religion. In addition, his administration exempted clergy from taxes and public service to avoid strife (Rossabi 3). By preserving native customary cultures; art and science flourished during the Mongol occupation. This patronization of self-expression allowed a cosmopolitan society to emerge. Although rulers remained hereditary, Mongol leaders preached a merit system. This was to disassemble social hierarchy and prevent government corruption. In the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan abandoned long-held Chinese civil service exams. Rather, he "wanted a free hand in selecting his own officials and was unwilling to be bound by Chinese practices" (Rossabi 56). By choosing qualified officeholders, civil injustices decreased and localized decisions became prevalent. The Mongol Empire’s tolerance attracted individuals yearning for a chance. Under these circumstances, conquered peoples submitted to Mongol authority and abstained from

Their binding strict code of law known as Yassa, which translates as “decree” earned the empire a high stature. It emerged as accumulations of unwritten decrees from Genghis Khan and Mongol tradition. This enforced legal and social behavior and collaborative with foreign legal systems such that of the Chinese. The second Great Khan, Ogodei Khan proclaimed the Great Yassa into written ordinances for three primary reasons. To reinforce allegiance towards Great Khan’s, integrate nomadic clans, and reinforce strict capital punishments for crimes of blood feuds, spying, treason, desertion, theft, and adultery (Lane 205). By regulating social order, the Pax Mongolica to emerged. During which, international passports materialized for merchants and bureaucrats traveling Mongol domains. Increased dependence on trade during the Pax Mongolica unified China and Russia. In 1268, Kublai Khan started Ortogh, a merchant integrated to aid small merchants. The Ortogh allowed small merchants to pool their money and decreased the merchant trade tax rate from 0.33% to 3% (Rossabi 96). By supporting merchants, the economy grew and merchants became prevalent and competent. Exploiting trade tax allowed the Mongol Empire to finance government buildings. Public works such as hospitals and banks and the Imperial Academy of Medicine all developed. These implementations reformed quality of life in the Mongol