The History of the Mongols

Although not a member of Genghis Khan's clan Tamerlane looked to Genghis as he tried to build his own Asian empire.

The Mongols ruled Eurasia for almost 200 years but what was the legacy of their empire?

Between 1333 Toghon Temur ruled as the last emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. He watched as China was conquered by the Ming and the era of the Mongol empire came to an end.

In the 1350's and 1360's the western half of the great Mongol empire began to break apart into a series of smaller states.

In the 1330's and 1340's the most devastating pandemic in history swept across Eurasia killing up to 50 million people.

In the early part of the 14th Century the whole Mongol empire came under increasing stress as the descendants of Genghis continued to fight over his legacy.

In the early years of the 14th Century the 'Mongol Peace' allowed trade to flourish across the empire under the leadership of two young rulers.

The last years of Khublai's reign were not happy as he dealt with economic difficulties and personal loss. His legacy though is immense.

Marco Polo's journey and stay at the court of Kublai Khan is one of the most famous travel stories of all time that helped introduce Western audiences to China and the Mongols.

After defeating the Song Dynasty, Kublai Khan tried to conquer Japan and South East Asia, but fell victim to the original Kamikaze.

This short episode looks at Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem inspired by the Mongols, Kubla Khan.

Following his election as Great Khan, Kublai had some important domestic issues to tackle , and two capitals to build.

Between 1264 and 1279 Kublai Khan completed the conquest of China. He become the first foreigner to rule over the whole country and founded the Yuan dynasty.

The death of Mongke Khan in 1259 precipitated not one but two civil wars that would change the Mongol empire for ever.

In the 1250's Kublai Khan built his military reputation in China. Meanwhile in the West of the Empire the Mongols suffered their first major defeat, against the Mamluks.

In 1258 the Mongols captured Baghdad an event that left the River Tigris flowing red with blood and black with ink.

Between 1241 and 1251 much of the power in the Mongol empire rested in the hands of three powerful queens,

During the last years of his reign Ogedei Khan ordered the building of the Mongol's first capital, Karakorum

The Mongol invasion of Europe takes their troops to the walls of Vienna.

The Mongols invade and conquer Russia establishing the Tartar Yoke.