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Temujin, a member of the Brojigin tribe, is born near the border of Mongolia and Siberia, into the harsh reality of nomadic life on the Mongolian steppe. Brought up amidst poverty and constant warfare, Temujin is married at 16, and at 20 begins assembling an army with the goal of conquering other steppe tribes.
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Temujin subjugates the other tribes of the Mongolian steppe. He is proclaimed leader of the tribes and assumes the title "Genghis Khan," which means "Universal Ruler."
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With the unification of the steppe tribes complete, the Mongols turn outward and begin to raid neighboring lands, including China, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.
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Under Genghis' leadership, the Mongols invade and conquer the kingdom of Xixia, consisting of North-western China and parts of Tibet, giving Genghis control over portions of the Silk Road.
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Beginning in 1211 and ending 20 years later, the Mongols invade and conquer the Jin Dynasty of northern China.
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After Mongol ambassadors to the Khwarezm Empire are murdered, Genghis personally heads an army of 200,000 Mongol cavalry and subjugates the powerful middle eastern empire, consisting of present-day Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
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The Mongol Peace is created. The stabilizing effects of the Mongol conquests of Asia included religious tolerance; connection of the trade centers of Europe and Asia via the silk road; political and military advancement based on merit, not bloodline; and the establishment of a legal code, written by Genghis Khan himself, known as "Yassa."
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Beginning in 1223, and lasting on and off until 1242, the Mongols invaded much of Eastern Europe including,
Bulgaria (1223-1236)
Kievan Rus (1237-1240)
Poland (1241)
Hungary (1241-1242) -
Killed by internal injuries after being thrown from a horse in his 60's, Genghis Khan had conquered more than twice as much territory as any other man in history. His empire stretched from the Yellow Sea of Asia to the Caspian Sea of eastern Europe.
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After his death, Genghis Khan's empire was divided into Khanates and distributed among his four sons, and later grandsons, who expanded and ruled the Mongol Empire under the "great Khan," Genghis' third son Ogedei. Ogedei Khan ruled until his death in 1241. Civil war among Genghis' grandsons permanently fractured the empire.
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After a four-year civil war between Genghis' grandsons, Kublai emerges victorious, and is named Khan. He is the last of the "great Khans."
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Yuan Dynasty established in China by Kublai Khan, who names himself Emperor of China.
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The southernmost Chinese kingdom, the Song dynasty surrendered to the Mongols in 1276, giving Kublai Khan domain over all China. Resistance continued until 1279 when it was finally crushed at the battle of Yamen.
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The Mongol Empire reaches it's height, totaling over 12 million square miles, by far the largest land empire in history.
