The Mongol Conquests in World History (Globalities)

The Mongol Empire (c. 1200-1350) in many ways marks the beginning of the modern age, as well as globalization.While communications between the extremes of Eurasia existed prior to the Mongols, they were infrequent and often through intermediaries.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 the most destructive force in the pre-modern world, the Pax Mongolica had stabilizing effects on the social, cultural and economic life of the inhabitants of the vast territory, allowing merchants and missionaries to traverse Eurasia.The conquests also set in motion other changes in warfare, medicine, food, culture and scientific knowledge. When Mongol power declined, it was replaced with over a dozen successors who retained elements of the Mongol Empire, but none of its unity.The Mongol Conquest in World History examines the many