Decline of the Mongol Empire

Size of the Empire

• The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history.
• Success in controlling diverse regions made governance extraordinarily challenging.
• The Mongols maintained rule better in China due to its tradition of centralized power.
• The empire began to fragment as the central government in China weakened.

Problems during the Reign of Kublai Khan

• Kublai Khan's Rise: After Mngke's death in 1259, Kublai was proclaimed great khan.
• Achievements:
  • Completed the conquest and unification of China.
  • Moved the Mongol capital from Karakorum to Beijing.
  • Reconciled China to Mongol rule.
• Challenges:
  • Difficulty in governing a vast empire.
  • Costly wars with other Asian countries.
  • Failed attempts to invade Japan.
  • Extravagant administration led to resentment and uprisings.

Decline in the 14th Century and After

• After Kublai's death in 1294, the empire fragmented.
• Successors were often inept with frequent disputes over succession.
• The Yuan Dynasty fell in 1368, overthrown by Chinese rebel Zhu Yuanzhang, who started the Ming Dynasty.
• The Golden Horde was the most enduring part of the empire, declining in the mid-14th century.
  • Factors contributing to the decline included the Black Death and internal conflicts.
  • The Golden Horde fragmented into smaller territories in the 15th century.