The Mongol Empire (1206 - 1368)

The Mongol Empire (1206-1368) emerged under Genghis Khan's leadership, becoming history's largest contiguous land empire through unmatched military tactics and mobility. At its peak, it stretched from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan, facilitating unprecedented cultural exchange along the Silk Road. The empire's decline began after Kublai Khan's death, plagued by succession disputes, administrative overextension, and the Black Death's devastation. Internal fragmentation and resistance from subject peoples gradually dissolved the empire into smaller khanates. Though short-lived, its impact reshaped Eurasia's political and cultural landscape for centuries.