How Did the Mongol Invasions Affect Global History

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. 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.

While the Mongol strategy appeared cruel, it was also intended to avoid major setbacks due to their relatively small numbers. The major advantage the Mongols had was their ability to rapidly deploy and attack before their enemies had time to organize. However, to avoid problems in areas they had already conquered, the Mongol strategy also included reducing these areas to the point where they could not be a threat again.

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 invasion but the situation soon changed as much of Eurasia remained pacified for much of the 13th-14th centuries.

Impact of Invasions

The Mongol invasions did cause a prolonged peaceful period called the Pax Mongolica. 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. Ultimately, the conquests led to a relative political calm in much of Eurasia that came after the initial conquests.

In Europe, and preceding the Age of Discovery that led to the founding of the New World, explorers such as Marco Polo were now able to more easily go on the Silk Road and travel across Eurasia with minimal hindrance and banditry. Knowledge now also began to more freely move across China and Europe, leading to methods in mathematics, medicine, printing, and astronomy to be brought to Europe. New forms of banking and insurance practices, first done in Eurasia, now also spread to Europe and help lead to the founding of important banking and insurance families in Italy and beyond. In effect, the knowledge and information transfer that became easier did help lead to what would become the Renaissance in Europe, where it was first started by Italians who were the mostly closely associated with trade activities in the Silk Road and contacts with Eurasia.

Products such as pepper, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices now were introduced to Europe at much greater rates. Prices for products dropped as fewer authorities competed for taxes collected along the Silk Road. Additionally, with increased trade activity once again becoming common, and new knowledge spread to Europe, as well as developed within, there was a greater impetus to now circumvent the revitalized Silk Road in the 15th century. Traders saw the potential to benefit more if parts of the trade network were avoided and if distance and travel time could be cut to the major product regions of India and China could be reached. Improved navigation and ship building now meant ships were better able to traverse more distance and along open oceans. In effect, the motive for Christopher Columbus was to reach the riches of the east, including India, as he set sail from Spain in 1492. The discovery of the New World was, in some ways, then influenced by the Mongol conquests since it reengaged Europe in trade with the East and led to explorers wanting to find new routes to circumvent middlemen along the way to the major markets.