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Mongol Empire Research Paper

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For years nomadic groups like the Huns, Turks, and in particular the Mongols inhabited the Eurasian steppe. A steppe is an area of dry grassland that receives very little rain, but is able to support the growth of short, tough grasses. For this reason the Mongols, who lived in mostly the eastern steppe, were pastoralists, meaning they herded domesticated animals, and were constantly moving looking for land suited for grazing. The land was unsuitable for any type of agriculture, therefore the Mongols never created a settled civilization. The vast landscape of the steppe also led to the Mongols’ extensive use of horses to follow their huge herds. The isolation from settled civilization meant clans depended on their animals for food, clothing, …show more content…

Armies moved in all directions from Central Asia and in the process invaded northern China, Korea, and destroyed important cities like Kiev; the Mongols moved as far as the Adriatic Sea, and in the process conquered Persia. In 1260 the huge Mongol Empire had been divided into four separate sections or khanates for easier control over the people; The Khanate of the Great khan included Mongolia and China, the Khanate of Chagatai was Central Asia, the Ilkhanate was made up of Persia, and the Khanate of the Golden Horde was composed of their conquered territories in Russia. Although harsh conquers, the Mongols were peaceful rulers. The areas they invaded were often too greatly destroyed, and no longer suitable for resettlement because of the destruction their armies created. However the Mongols were extremely tolerant rulers, and hardly ever imposed their own beliefs and customs on those they conquered. Their simple, nomadic lifestyles meant they probably had fewer customs that didn’t even fit the lives of the settled people they ruled. Often times, Mongol rulers would even adopt aspects of the cultures of the people they ruled, for example the Ilkhan and Golden Horde converted to Muslim. Still, this led to increasing cultural differences that caused the empire to

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