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[[File:GenghisPortrait.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Taizu aka Genghis Khan]]
The Mongol invasions of the 13th century affected much of Eurasia, where at one point the Mongols had conquered lands stretching from China to Eastern Europe. While these invasions have been depicted as very destructive and disruptive to trade and urban life in many regions, there were a number of new developments that fundamentally changed the course of history for Europe and Asia. Many of these impacts are not obvious but the influence of the Mongols, in effect, can still be felt today.
====Mongol Conquests====The Mongol conquests initiated by Genghis Khan, who united the often warring Mongol and Turkic tribes, in 1206 and continuing through his successors until the end of 13th century launched a period of unprecedented destruction and transformation for Eurasia. At surface value, the destruction during the 13th century when these conquests took place was immense. Some have estimated that the Mongol invasions killed more people than any other war if one adjusted for global population levels, where up to 5% of the planet may have been killed during the invasions. Additionally, the invasions have been suggested as helping to begin the spread of the Black Death plague, as tactics and movements of population may have helped the bacteria to more easily spread. Many of the great cities in East Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia were either destroyed or lost much of their cultural property. Cities as diverse as Kiev, Nishapur, Samarkand, and Baghdad were heavily damaged or destroyed. In some countries, it is estimated that nearly half the population died in the invasions and aftermath.
[[File:MongolEmpire.jpg|thumbnail|left|275px|Figure 1. Areas conquered and incorporated by the Mongols.]]While the conquest of Mongol strategy appeared cruel, it was also intended to avoid major setbacks due to their relatively small numbers. The major advantage the Mongols peaked in the 13th century, they did continue had was their ability to invade rapidly deploy and attack various regions long after this before their enemies had timeto organize. In the 14th-15th centuriesThe Mongols were often greatly outnumbered, but through divide and conquer tactics, deception, China and Iran continued superior tactical management, they were able to be under Mongol controldefeat enemies that looked far stronger on paper. Additionally, while the Mughal state to avoid revolts and other problems in India lasted into areas they had already conquered, the 19th century and was influenced by Mongol strategy also included reducing these areas to the earlier Mongol invasionspoint where they could not be a threat again. Many of the key trade This was not a universal policy, as Mongols did offer cities along the Silk Road a chance to surrender and regions if they refused then their penalty was often harsh in China did initially decline due to the invasion but near total destruction of the situation soon changed as much of Eurasia remained pacified for much population. <ref>For more on Mongol war tactics, see: May, T. M. (2007). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594160465/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594160465&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2569b7ef3ae7584d75146e9b82e2dbe1 The Mongol Art of War: Chinggis Khan and the 13th-14th centuriesMongol Military System].</i> Yardley, Penn: Westholme.</ref>
While the conquest of the Mongols peaked in the 13th century, they did continue to invade and attack various regions long after this time. In the 14th-15th centuries, China and Iran continued to be under Mongol control, while the Mughal state in India lasted into the 19th century and was influenced by the earlier Mongol invasions. Many of the key trade cities along the Silk Road and regions in China did initially decline due to the invasions but the situation soon changed as much of Eurasia remained pacified for much of the 13th-14th centuries, leading to regained prosperity along parts of the Silk Road.<ref>For more on the political effects of the Mongols, see: Reid, S. (1994). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0921921284/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0921921284&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f8041ab54162c6f99e9ee1b327d05123 Cultures and Civilizations: The Silk and Spice Routes].</i> London: Belitha Press : UNESCO Pub.</ref>
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====Impact of Invasions====
[[File:Marco Polo - costume tartare.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 2. Marco Polo dressed in Tatar clothing, often used by Mongols.]]
The Mongol invasions did cause a prolonged peaceful period called the <i>Pax Mongolica</i>. While in the period prior to the Mongols, many of the great states contended with rivalries and their own regional conquests, this also limited some contacts between them. The Mongol dominion now opened up new connections that were easier to traverse as regions between Eastern Europe to China were largely pacified. The Mongols also acquired new technical knowledge, such as Chinese engineers, and taxes as they expanded their empire. This enabled them to create a more stable empire that then began to govern and see the benefit of developing cities for the benefit of the Mongol rulers through increased revenue. Ultimately, the conquests led to a relative political calm in much of Eurasia that came after the initial conquests.<ref>For more on the "Pax Mongolica," see: Parker, C. H., & Bentley, J. H. (Eds.). (2007). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0742553108/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0742553108&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4a7c372accf0a93b89e5a926986d65c3 Between the Middle Ages and Modernity: Individual and Community in the Early Modern World]</i>. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, pg. 94.</ref>
====How Invasions Affected Long-Term Demographics and Global Power====Over time, much of the influence of the Mongols has become more of a background to other historical developments. Important trades shifted away from the Silk Road, and the New World gained a greater significance in the global economy. However, one areas area that the Mongol invasions have continued to affect is in demographics. Central Asia has experienced some of the greatest changes, where the decline of Indo-Aryan or Indo-European languages, such as those based for Persian, reflect a shift more to Turkic type languages. This also likely reflects greater presence of Turkic populations as they increasingly moved across Central Asia during the period of conqueststhat saw major cities and populations removed. Such migrations had begun in the 11th century but increased further. Many regions remained relatively depopulated for centuries, such as Iran and Iraq, where those regions had once support supported far larger populations and those levels of populations did not fully recover until perhaps the 20th century. In general, Central Asia and the Middle East This also meant these regions became more depopulated. As they also lost their ability to control trade routes after navigation improved to circumvent the Silk Road routesless significant in global affairs, this created as new opportunities for populations from the eastern parts of Central Asia powers arose to move into other regions of Central Asia and replace them in the Middle Near East. Eventually, this led to the rise of Turkic based dynasties and, eventually, the Ottoman Empire in Turkeysurrounding regions.
In Chinageneral, Central Asia and the impacts did also lead to new political developments. The Yuan dynasty Middle East became a successor Chinese state from a Mongol khanatemore depopulated. However, in China, the invasion may have not been as destructive As they also lost their ability to the population, as they seemed control trade routes after navigation improved to recover by circumvent the 14th and 15th centuries. NeverthelessSilk Road routes, this created new opportunities for populations from the experience eastern parts of China with the Mongol invasions may have contributed Central Asia to its isolationist policies that started in increasingly move into other regions of Central Asia and the 15th centuryMiddle East. The outside began Eventually, this led to look like an uncivilized placemore influence and rise of Turkic based dynasties, leading to a greater internally. This which had long-term consequences for Chinabegun already before the Mongols, as it led to its economic and , eventually political decline , the Ottoman Empire in the later half of the 2nd millennium Turkey. <ref>For more on demographic and leading up political changes due to the early 20th centuryMongols, see: Harris, P. M. G. (2001). <i>The History of Human Populations.</i> Westport, Conn: Praeger.</ref>
===Conclusion===The Mongol invasions were among the most devastating invasions in global history. Few recorded events in history caused by human actions have been as destructive and wars may have not reached a comparable scale until the 19th and 20th centuries. However, there were greater impacts based on the invasions, mainly it also created opportunities for some regions while others saw their fortunes fall. Perhaps Europe benefited from the invasions as it helped to lower prices in trade goods that now began to flow more greatly. New knowledge also flowed to Europe that helped to combine with shifting attitudes, which eventually launched the Renaissance. Other regions, particularly in the Middle East, declined in political and economic power, as depopulation had major consequences. Policies in China, in part, also adjusted based on experiences with the Mongols, that then led to new rulers in China to become, over time, more isolationist. Demographic changes occurred as new migrations became possible that have now subsequently affected today's populations in the Middle East and Central Asia in particular. Many of Indo-Arayan languages across Central Asia have subsequently been replaced by more Turkish based influences.{{MediaWiki:AmNative}} ===References===<references/> [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Chinese History]] [[Category:European History]][[Category:Middle East History]][[Category:Asian History]]