The Mongol Conquests In World History

Timothy Michael May

The Mongol Empire (c. 1200-1350) can be seen as marking the beginning of the modern age, and of globalization as well. While communications between the extremes of Eurasia existed prior to the Mongols, they were infrequent and often through intermediaries. As this book shows, the rise of the Mongol Empire changed everything; through their conquests the Mongols swept away dozens of empires and kingdoms and replaced them with the largest contiguous empire in history. While the Mongols were an extremely destructive force in the premodern world, the Mongol Empire had stabilizing effects on the social, cultural and economic life of the inhabitants of the vast territory, allowing merchants and missionaries to transverse Eurasia. This book examines the many ways in which the conquests were a catalyst for change, including changes and advancements in warfare, food, culture, and scientific...