Mongol Empire Research Paper

The Mongol Empire was the world's largest contiguous empire in history, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to Eastern Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. Although emerging from the Mongolian steppes as uncivilized nomads lacking a basic government structure in 1206; the Mongols quickly adapted and developed an elaborate political structure to rule their vast empire. They were led by Temujin Khan, later renamed Genghis Khan, meaning “universal ruler” who amassed his following by uniting Mongolia’s plethora of clans and utilizing his military might to unprecedentedly sweep across Eurasia. When Genghis Khan died in 1227, the Mongol Empire split into four distinct khanates (regions) to redistribute power among his sons (Chagatai Khanate in Central …show more content…
After defeating the last king of the Naiman tribe, Genghis Khan stole their seal-bearer, the Uyghur script. The Uyghur language not only improved communication within the empire, but also unified its diverse population. In 1204, Genghis Khan commissioned Mongol scholars to translate and then adapt the Uyghur script to codify Mongol Law and record Mongol history. Additionally, he commissioned Tata-Tonga to educate his four sons and young Mongol scholars to read and write the Mongol Language with the Uyghur Script (Lane 205). Establishing a unified language and advocating scholars prioritized government funded intellectual pursuits in mathematics, engineering, banking and began the custom of keeping records of court trials and census’. Before his death in 1127, Genghis Khan responded to heightened trade demand by effecting and streamlining paper currencies backed with silk and silver reserves within Mongol domains. During the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan’s administration required foreign merchants to exchange their valuable ingots for official Chao banknotes (Hull 90). Not only did this reduce carrying costs, but also allowed the Mongol government to monetize taxes, horde metal ingots and economic growth. Accordingly, their use of financial and linguistic currency to facilitate trade promoted Mongolian culture and government so that, over time, Eurasian civilization became a …show more content…
Rather than participating in trade, the Mongol Empire acted as the catalyst of cross Eurasian trade and assumed an influential reputation in Eurasia. During his rule, Genghis Khan expanded the Yam, a postal system of staggered stations posted with alert horses and riders, usually 14 to 40 miles apart stationed to pass on important messages (New World Encyclopedia contributors). These postal stations not only centralized communication, but later evolved into inns which housed traveling merchants which allowed the interchanging of ideas and technologies. Furthermore, this rapid communication network greatly safeguarded the Mongol Empire from raiders which revived the mainly deserted routes of the silk road that the Mongol government capitalized on by taxing to fund public works. Emperor Kublai Khan promoted further economic growth and independence from neighboring empires by updating and commissioning canals, specifically in China. Notably a 136-mile canal from Ta-tu, Northern China to the mouth of the Yangtze River in Southern China (Hull 89). The watercourse promoted trade and improved relations between the urban North and primarily nomadic South. Moreover, the previously futile city of Ta-tu became an advantageous inland port. Naturally, trade flourished in the Mongol Empire as a result of their elaborate efforts to sustain secure trade for