The Mongolian Empire

The Mongolian Empire was able to rise out of the small nomadic groups of the Steppe region. Through military conquest and alliances, their land stretched across a large swath of the Asian continent. While the Empire is commonly referred to as one of great “barbarity” the greater strength was within many of the practices that allowed for the rule of such a large expanse of land. The Mongolian Empire was able to both gain, and oversee, their territory due to their willingness to negotiate with local authorities, the stabilization brought by agricultural and economic investments, and the importance placed on alliances and brotherhood. While the Mongolian forces were a formidable force of military might, the ability of their empire to last can be attested to the ability of their officials and rulers to negotiate with local and regional groups. This is especially evident under the rule of Khubilai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. Instead of an attempt at imposing Mongolian ideals across all of the Empire, the Yuan Dynasty instead created a system of indirect rule that incorporated many of the local practices of state government. Examples of this can be seen in the absorption of the tribute system within the Korean peninsula, used as a …show more content…
With the Steppe region not suitable for large scale agriculture, the emphasis placed upon farmers in the more fertile regions is understandable. Under the Yuan dynasty farming was encouraged through a reformed system of taxation that encouraged agricultural expansion, and alleviated tax burdens during time of crop failure. This also included the increase in public work projects that created more fertile farmland, such as systems of irrigation. While these projects would eventually led to a more powerful labor class, it helped insure food supplies, and thus stability for the