A nomadic people from the grassy steppe of modern day Mongolia, the Mongols emerged as a military might known for their superb horsemanship. Conquering the vast majority of Eurasia, the Mongols were perhaps the most destructive human force of the Late Middle Ages.

The Mongols first began to conquer surrounding tribes before eventually defeating the greatest empires of the day, including the Chinese Jin dynasty, Abbasid Caliphate, Russian monarchy, and Eastern European duchies. Under the leadership of the brutal but battle-savvy Genghis Khan, the Mongols ruled over a vast empire that stretched from Korea to Hungary and Siberia to Persia. The Mongols never waged war without notice, and their excellent marksmanship and horsemanship made the a formidable force.

In 1260, Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan (the same ruler who Marco Polo encountered) established the Mongol-Chinese Yuan dynasty.  By 1271 this empire was the largest in the Old World.

But  the Mongols were unable to maintain this empire. Being a nomadic people, they were unequipped to deal with the logistics of a land power. Due to constant infighting and succession crises, Genghis Khan’s empire was divided into 4 among his descendants.  By the 15th century the Mongols were a distant memory – though their political divisions continued to impact history.

For an amusing and informative video about the Mongol conquests, click here.