Genghis Khan & The Mongols

What is the significance of the term 'Pax Mongolica'?

A period of stability and peace during the 13th-14th centuries, marked by a large network of trade routes.

What characteristic was key to the mobility of nomadic tribes in Central Asia?

Skilled horsemen and archers, able to survive harsh weather conditions.

Who was Genghis Khan?

Formerly known as Temujin, he united all Mongol tribes and expanded the empire through military conquest.

What was the Golden Horde?

A Mongol khanate that emerged after the death of Genghis Khan, leading conquests in Europe and Russia.

What defining trait of the Mongol Empire was established through meritocracy?

Military and other positions were assigned based on merit, not family status.

What major event in 1215 did the Mongols undertake?

They invaded China, leading to the establishment of the Yuan dynasty.

What was a key consequence of the Mongol conquests on the Silk Road?

They established peace and safety along the Silk Road.

What was cultural assimilation in the context of the Mongol Empire?

The process of adopting practices and ideas from conquered cultures into their own.

What was the Yam system?

A mail system created by the Mongols to facilitate communication.

What led to the decline of the Mongol Empire?

Division into Khanates, power struggles, lack of strong new leaders, and external forces like the Black Death.

What important cities were destroyed by the Mongols on the Silk Road?

Samarkand and Bukhara.

How did Genghis Khan's childhood influence his leadership?

His rough childhood made him a stronger leader with various means of unifying the Mongol nation.