The Mongol Century
In two generations the Mongols built the largest connected land empire there has been, from Korea to Hungary. What they destroyed is well recorded; what they connected, from postal relays to safe roads for merchants, is easier to miss.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Say roughly how far the empire reached at its height and name two regions it took in
- Give one military advantage the Mongol armies had over settled states
- Name one thing that moved more easily because the roads were under one authority
1 · Read
In two generations the Mongols built the largest connected land empire yet, from Korea to Hungary. Temujin took the title Chinggis Khan in 1206, when a great meeting called a kurultai backed his rule.
Mongol riders lived on horseback and struck fast, which settled armies struggled to match. After conquest, one authority guarded the roads, so merchants, envoys, and postal riders crossed Asia in safety.
Chinggis set down laws called the yassa and ordered a script so the laws could be written. The empire later split between his heirs, yet the roads and relays kept joining East and West.
Judge the Mongols twice: once for what they broke, and once for what they joined. Both tallies belong in your answer.
Fast horses built the empire, and guarded roads with postal relays joined a continent.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.