Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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352

Mongol Empire

In the late 1100s, a masterful chieftain united a group of wandering

tribes into a powerful army. he was called Genghis Khan; the tribes were

the Mongols. all were toughened by a harsh life spent herding on the treeless

plains of northeastern asia. Determined to train the best army of his time,

Genghis built up a formidable cavalry force. Using their traditional composite

bows and new weapons, such as gunpowder, they were invincible. In 1211,

the Mongols invaded China, and then swept through asia. they moved at

incredible speed, con cen trat ing their forces at critical moments. all their

military operations were planned to the smallest detail. looting and burning

as they came, they struck terror into the hearts of their enemies. In 1227,

Genghis Khan died, leaving a huge empire

to his four sons, who extended it through

asia Minor into europe. however, the

empire broke apart as rival khans (Mongol

kings) battled for control.

MonGol Khanates

after Genghis’s death, the Mongol

empire divided into four khanates,

or states, with different rulers.

Kublai, grandson of Genghis, ruled

the eastern khanate. the smaller

western empires, although briefly

united in the 1300s by tamerlane

the Great, gradually disintegrated.

CoMposIte BoW

Mongols made their deadly bows out of

wood, horn, and sinew, which gave the

bows incredible power. the Mongols

were superb archers, able to

string, aim, and fire at full

gallop. they developed

armor-piercing

arrows, whistling

arrows for

signaling, and

even arrows

tipped with

grenades.

GenGhIs Khan

temüjin (1162-1227) was

the son of a tribal chief. his

father was murdered when

temüjin was still a child, and

when he grew up he defeated

his enemies, united all other

tribes under his control, and

took the title Genghis Khan,

meaning “prince of all that

lies between the oceans.” he

aimed to conquer the world.

Mongol eMpire

1206 temüjin unites all the

tribes of Mongolia.

1219 Mongols invade persia.

1223 Mongols invade Russia.

1237 Batu, grandson of Genghis

Khan, invades north Russia.

1240 Batu invades poland

and hungary.

1260 Mamelukes, egyptian

warriors, defeat Mongols.

1279 Kublai Khan defeats China.

1370 tamerlane the Great

YURts conquers the western khanates.

tribes wandered the Mongolian

steppes following their herds of sheep,

goats, cattle, and horses. they lived in

circular tents called yurts, which they

took with them when they moved. the

women drove wagons that held the

yurts; the men hunted, looked after the

herds, and traded for grain and metal.

Mongols of today still live in yurts.

Strung

bow

Cavalry controlled

horses with their feet

to leave their hands

free for fighting.

Horses in

battle gear

Armor-

piercing

arrow

Find out more

armor

asia, history of

explorers

Khanate

of Hulagu

Unstrung

bow

Khanate of the

Golden Horde

Khanate of

Jagatai

Empire of

Kublai Khan

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