Nepali Wanderer

The epic tale of the Mongol Empire begins with a single warrior in Mongolia named Temujin. Born around 1162 AD into a tribal family in a land of fierce warriors, Temujin gradually rose through the ranks. After a series of victories over his rivals, he was elected leader of his people. As “Khan” meant “ruler” in their land, Temujin became known as Genghis Khan. He would lead his Mongol armies out of the steppes to create the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen, earning his place as arguably the greatest warrior of all time.

While his sons and grandsons expanded and solidified the Mongol Empire’s greatness, it was Genghis Khan who laid its foundation. He was a charismatic military genius who united all the Mongol and Turkic tribes of Mongolia, primarily through political alliances and conquests. By the time of his death in 1227, the Mongols had reached as far as the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Caspian Sea in the west, conquering more territory in 25 years than the Roman Empire did in 400.

Even after Genghis Khan’s death, his descendants continued their conquests. The Mongol army marched across diverse terrains, from Siberia’s frigid deserts to Arabia’s scorching sands, proving peerless in warfare. Eventually, the empire was divided into four sub-khanates: the Golden Horde in present-day Russia, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, the Ilkhanate in Iran, and the Yuan Dynasty in China — all ruled by Genghis Khan’s descendants.

The famous Kublai Khan, whom we encountered in our previous story on China, was also a grandson of Genghis Khan. He founded the Yuan Dynasty in China, making paper money the official currency and guaranteeing its value in precious metals.

Despite their vast empire, the Mongols are often stereotyped as mere plunderers. While their conquests were indeed brutal, with an estimated 40 million casualties, their strategic acumen in empire-building and their lasting influence cannot be overlooked. The Mongols were shrewd rulers open to new ideas—technological, cultural, and religious. Genghis Khan implemented a meritocratic system in his army, where positions were earned based on merit, breaking down traditional clan and blood-based divisions.
The Mongols also had a unique attitude towards religion. While they were animists revering nature gods like Sky and Earth, they practiced religious tolerance across their empire, which included Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism. This tolerance stood out during a time rife with religious wars elsewhere. The Mongols even adopted local religions in different regions, practicing Buddhism in the Yuan Empire and Islam in the Ilkhanate.

But the biggest impact the Mongols had was in the world of money. Under Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty adopted paper money as its official currency, backed by precious metals. However, as we discussed earlier, money is more than a physical construct; it is a concept built on trust. The Mongols ensured this trust through strong governance and a trade-friendly environment.

With their vast empire, the Mongols were able to establish peace and stability across all regions of Eurasia, a period famously known as Pax Mongolica (Mongol Peace in Latin). They extended their influence by offering tax exemptions and low-interest loans to merchants. Additionally, the efficient Yam postal system and a merchant passport facilitated travel throughout the Mongol Empire, effectively creating a global free-trade region.

Throughout much of history, major societal decisions were influenced by kings and priests. In this light, the Mongols played a pivotal role in the rise of the merchant class. This shift signaled impending changes, as it would eventually be merchants, rather than kings and priests, who would control and revolutionize the world.

All these transformative developments wouldn’t have been possible without one crucial factor — the revival of the ancient pathways that linked East and West. In this light, the Mongols’ greatest legacy lies in the revival of the legendary Silk Road.
Next up, we take our journey to the fabled Silk Road.