Great Mongol Nation (1206–1368)

Great Mongol Nation ᠶᠡᠬᠡ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ
1206–1368
Capital	Avarga (1206–1235) Karakorum (1235–1260) Khanbaliq (1271–1368)
Dominant mode of production	Feudalism
Area
• Total	24,000,000 km²

The Great Mongol Nation, commonly known as the Mongol Empire, was the largest contiguous land-based state in history.

History

Background

In the early 11th century, feudal states began forming in Mongolia. Khabul Khan, great-grandfather of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan, became the first khan (leader) of the Khamag confederation, which collapsed in 1166 after his grandson Yesugei was poisoned.

Temüjin (later named Chinggis Khan) made an alliance with Jamukha and Toghrul to retake his father's vassals and defeated the Merkit confederation. He then fought with Jamukha over who would rule the Khamag and defeated him in 1190, becoming khan. He gave privileges to tribal leaders (noyod) who supported him and established a ruling class of darkhan that were exempt from taxes, could hoard war loot instead of dividing it, and were not punished for their first nine offenses.

Around 1200, Temüjin and Toghrul joined a campaign against the Tatars and defeated Jamukha again. In 1202, they defeated the Merkits, but Toghrul then allied with Jamukha against Temüjin. By 1206, Temüjin united all of Mongolia under his rule.^106–8

Further reading

• History of the Mongolian People's Republic: Section Three: Mongolia as a Feudal State