Middle Ages

Mongol Empire

1206 AD – 1368 AD · peak 1279 AD

Founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, the Mongol Empire became the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan. It facilitated the Pax Mongolica, a period of intensified transcontinental trade and communication managed through the Yam postal system and the capital at Karakorum. The empire fragmented into four independent khanates by the late 13th century, including the Yuan Dynasty in China and the Golden Horde in Russia.

Capital: Karakorum / Khanbaliq