-
During the late 1100's Japan's two most powerful clans fought for power. After almost 30 years of war, the Minamoto family emerged victorious. in 1192, the emperor gave a Minamoto leader named Yoritomo the title of shogun, meaning 'supreme general of the emperors army.'
-
for centuries, the Mongol people had roamed the astern steppe in loosely organised clans. it took a military and political genuis ro unite the mongols into a force with a single purpose-conquest.
-
Genghis Khan was a brilliant organizer. he also had an army of 10,000 followers. they were grouped into 1,000-man birgades, 100-man companies, 10-maan platoons.
-
Genghis Khan died in 1227, not from violence but from illness. his successors expanded his empire even after his death. in less than 50 years the mongols conquered terrorties from china to poland.
-
it took three generations of Mongol leaders to complete the conquest of China begun by Genghis Khan. in 1234, Genghis's son Ogadai conquered northern China. This opened southern China to direct attack. Chinese soldiers in the south held off the mongols for 40 years, but the armies of Kublai Khan finally overwhelmed them in 1279.
-
By 1260, the Mongol empire was divided into four large khanates, each of them ruled by a descendant of Genghis. these four were the Khanate of the Great Khan, the Khanate of Chagati, the Ilkhanate, and the Khanate of the golden Chagatai.
-
From the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, the Mongols imposed stability and law and order across much of Eurasia. This period is sometimes called the Mongol Peace. The mongols guaranteed safe pasage of trade caravans, travilers, and missionaries from one end to another.