GENGHIS KHAN

MONGOLIAN, C.1158 – 1227

The founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan’s numerous conquests, in addition to the conquests of his successors, across Asia and Europe brought almost the entire Silk Road completely under Mongol control. This resulted in the Pax Mongolica, a period of peace during which Mongol protection increased stability and communication along trade routes, allowing more goods to flow freely. Cities that had previously been destroyed, such as Samarkand, were rebuilt, and increased cultural interactions brought the West and East closer together. The Silk Road’s improved security also made it easier for more people to travel along it safely.